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Jennifer Jones Austin to lead CCRB Jennifer Jones Austin was named the new munities it serves, Council stronger relationchair of the New York City Civilian Com- ship between the NYPD and the people of plaint Review Board, the nation’s largest New York City,” said Speaker Julie Menin independent police oversight entity, by Mayor said in the release. Zohran Kwame Mamdani on July 30. Jones Austin previously chaired the New Jones Austin will advance the Mamdani York City Racial Justice Commission, the administration’s whole-of-gover nment first municipal racial justice commission of approach to public safety by strengthening its kind in the nation and served as chair of accountability, building public trust and the New York City Board of Correction, ensuring every New Yorker is treated with where she oversaw the rulemaking process dignity. that ended solitary confinement in New York The appointment marks the City jails. first time the CCRB has had a per“Jennifer Jones Austin is an manent chair since 2020. Interim outstanding leader who underChair Sherene Crawford will constands why trust in the criminal tinue to serve as a member of the justice system is essential for pubCCRB Board. lic safety,” Manhattan District “Jennifer Jones Austin has Attorney Alvin Bragg, said in the spent her career standing with release. “She is a passionate advoNew Yorkers who are too often cate for equal justice under the shut out of the halls of power,” law and brings a wealth of advoMamdani said in a news release. cacy and government experience “She understands that public safethat will serve the needs of all ty and accountability go hand in New Yorkers. I look forward to hand, and that trust must be Jennifer Jones partnering to deliver safety and earned through action.” fairness.” Austin Jones Austin served as co-chair She currently serves as Vice Chair New York of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s transiChair of the National Action Nettion team and advised the city’s City's CCRB work board and has held leaderuniversal prekindergarten expanship roles on numerous public sion and NYPD Reform and Reinvention Col- and nonprofit commissions, including the laborative. New York State 400 Years of African Ameri“It is our responsibility as public servants can History Commission, Fordham Universito deepen trust by promoting transparency ty’s Feerick Center for Social Justice Advisoand integrity through our every action,” ry Board, Harvard University’s Center for Jones Austin said in the release. “As chair, I Law, Brain and Behavior Advisory Board and will work to advance CCRB’s critical mission the Covid-19 “Roll Up Your Sleeves” Task of accountability and look forward to the Force. She was also a Visiting Scholar at New work ahead.” York University’s Silver School of Social Jones Austin is a fourth-generation faith Work and Scholar in Residence at Alliance and social justice leader who has dedicated University's Center for Racial Reconciliation. her career to advancing equity and expanding “Jennifer Jones Austin has devoted her opportunity for New Yorkers. career to advancing justice, fairness and As CEO and Executive Director of Federa- opportunity for New Yorkers, bringing comtion of Protestant Welfare Agencies, an anti- passion, sound judgment and a deep commitpoverty policy and advocacy organization ment justice to her work,” Brooklyn District representing 170 member agencies and faith Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in the release. partners, Jones Austin has led successful She is the author of “Consider it Pure Joy” efforts to strengthen the social safety net and and editor of “God in the Ghetto: A Prophetic advance policies that empower disenfran- World Revisited.” Jones Austin earned a law chised and marginalized communities. Her degree from Fordham University School of work has focused on the intersection of race, Law, a Master of Science in management and poverty, law and public policy. policy from New York University’s Robert F. “She brings decades of respected public Wagner School of Public Service and her service, deep experience building consensus, bachelor’s from Rutgers University. and an unwavering commitment to strengthening trust between government and the com— Jeffrey Bessen
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s chair, I will work to advance CCRB’s critical mission of accountability.
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The new chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, the nation’s largest independent police oversight entity, is Jennifer Jones Austin, above.