Tom Eberly of the Justice Management Institute told the council his team would perform a confidential, no-cost assessment of JRAC’s structure and operations as part of the Safety and Justice Challenge. "The purpose of the assessment is to look at your council and see how it aligns with national best practices," Eberly said, describing one-on-one interviews, a brief survey and a 20-page draft report delivered in 5–6 months.

Eberly said the work typically includes coaching and practical, low-cost recommendations to improve meeting productivity, committee functioning and leadership engagement. He confirmed the assessment is covered by the MacArthur Foundation-sponsored Safety and Justice Challenge and "there's no cost associated with it."

Several members questioned whether JRAC currently needs another assessment or whether it would be more helpful to fast-track a strategy conversation focused on concrete implementation steps. One member described a concern common among newer participants: "I don't know if we'll need an assessment as much as a real strategy conversation of, like, do we want to do what's required to make this work?"

Eberly said JMI often supports jurisdictions through a short coaching period after the assessment and can help convert findings into an action plan. The council did not vote to accept the assessment during the meeting; members said they would consider timing and whether to proceed or prioritize a retreat-style strategy session.

Next steps: JMI will follow up with staff if the council elects to proceed; members signaled interest in either an assessment or a focused collaborative strategy meeting before implementing the strategic-plan tasks.