Championing equity and justice for D.C. by D.C.

Accountability. We are committed to holding our institutions accountable for how the legal system impacts D.C.’s communities, particularly those who are most marginalized. We understand that to truly be accountable transparency is necessary – both in the way D.C.’s legal system operates and in the way we operate our organization. We will actively strive to be transparent as an organization and advocate for system transparency.

Care & Respect. We strive to ensure that anyone who works for or with CCE feels included, valued, and safe. We seek to create a caring environment that honors varied knowledge and identities, prioritizes well-being and development, and respects unique contributions.

Collaboration. We know that bringing together diverse groups of people to work collaboratively increases our ability to build lasting change. We believe that those closest to problems create the most innovative, effective solutions, so we prioritize partnering with those involved in or affected by the legal system.

Evidence-Based Methods. We are committed to serving as a trustworthy, reliable source of high quality, research-driven ideas and evidence-based solutions for decision-makers and D.C. residents. We value the use of quantitative and qualitative data, community engagement, and the views of diverse experts, including those with lived expertise.

Justice. We believe that D.C.’s legal system must be fair, equitable, and impartial. We strive for a legal system where personal circumstances or identity do not determine or impact involvement or outcomes in the system.

Race Equity. We are committed to consistently evaluating practices, internal policies, and decision-making through a racial equity lens to ensure we are addressing the impacts of race on the legal system, on the people of D.C., and within our own organization. Our work acknowledges and addresses the harms of the past and seeks to ensure current and future policies do not repeat those harms.