The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation was established in 1982 as a nonprofit, public interest law organization dedicated to restoring a balance between the rights of crime victims and the criminally accused. The Foundation's purpose is to assure that people who are guilty of committing crimes receive swift and certain punishment in an orderly and constitutional manner.

To accomplish this, CJLF attorneys introduce scholarly friend of the court briefs in criminal cases before the state and federal courts of appeals to encourage precedent-setting decisions which recognize the constitutional rights of victims and law-abiding society.

The Foundation's dispassionate, low-profile approach has resulted in scores of United States Supreme Court decisions having a national effect to reduce the length, complexity and expense of appeals, recognize the rights and needs of child crime victims, and improve law enforcement's ability to identify and prosecute all types of criminals.

Throughout its 30-year existence CJLF has remained the only public interest law foundation in the nation working full time to strengthen law enforcement's ability to assure that crime does not pay. The Foundation has proven very successful before state and federal courts with widely varying philosophies about crime and punishment. Since 1989, with a fraction of the annual operating funds spent by civil liberties groups, the Foundation has maintained the best win/loss record before the United States Supreme Court of any public interest law organization in America.

While social, cultural and economic conditions can have an effect on crime rates, research has shown that in free societies the government's ability to efficiently apprehend, prosecute and punish criminals, in a swift and decisive system of justice is the most powerful deterrent to criminal behavior.

The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation has earned a national reputation for removing legal obstacles to the use of this deterrent while assuring that the constitutional rights of the accused are not forgotten. Although headquartered in Sacramento, California, the foundation's efforts benefit every American who depends upon law enforcement for protection from crime. CJLF is a federally qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and is funded entirely by tax-deductible contributions from individuals and charitable organizations.

OFFICERS
Chairman Rick Richmond Managing Partner Jenner & Block	Vice Chairman Michael H. Horner President Tom Sawyer Camps, Inc.
Secretary-treasurer Faye Battiste Otto, R.N., President American Forensic Nurses	President & CEO Michael D. Rushford Criminal Justice Legal Foundation
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Joseph F. Alibrandi, CEO Alibrandi Associates, LLC	William E. Bloomfield Jr., Chairman Web Service Company
Patrick A. Doheny Oil and Gas Producer	Jerry B. Epstein, Founder and General Partner Del Rey Shores and Marina Harbor
Christina Hurn, President St. Thomas Beverage, Inc.	Samuel J. Kahn, President Kent Holdings & Affiliates
Gino Roncelli, Founder & CEO Roncelli Plastics, Inc.	Mary J. Rudolph, Trustee The Erteszek Foundation
William A. Shaw, President & CEO Roxbury Properties, Inc.	Dr. Robert Sinskey, Owner Robert Sinskey Vineyards
Terence L. Smith, Partner TLS Logistics, LLC	Ted G. Westerman Gordon West Partners, LLP
Hon. Pete Wilson 36th Governor of California

LEGAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Hon. John A. Arguelles Justice, California Supreme Court (Retired) Of Counsel - Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Hon. George Deukmejian 35th Governor of California Hon. Malcom M. Lucas Chief Justice, California Supreme Court (Retired) Hon. Edwin Meese III Former United States Attorney General Hon. Edward Panelli Justice, California Supreme Court (Retired)

ACADEMIC REVIEW BOARD

Joseph M. Bessette Professor of Government Claremont McKenna College George L. Kelling Professor School of Criminal Justice Rutgers University Steven Levitt Professor of Economics University of Chicago

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: I have a legal problem. Can the Foundation help me? A: The Foundation does not represent individuals and does not participate in cases at the trial level. Its legal program is focused entirely on the introduction of scholarly amicus curiae ("friend of the court")briefs in criminal cases on appeal or habeas corpus before the United States Supreme Court, a state supreme court or a state or federal court of appeal, and occasionally in civil cases which impact the criminal justice system. Q: How does the Foundation choose the cases it joins? A: In roughly half the cases it joins, the Foundation's legal staff identifies and evaluates cases accepted for review before the nation's highest courts. In the remaining half, the Foundation's participation is invited by the Attorney General from the state where the original trial was conducted. The criteria for selection are 1) the importance of the case to law enforcement nationally, 2) the need for Foundation participation in the case, and 3) the availability of resources (time and staff) to introduce a quality brief. Q: How does the Foundation determine that it has helped a court reach a decision? A: In the cases it joins, the Foundation focuses its argument on specific issues it has determined should be resolved. When the court's decision squarely addresses those issues and follows the Foundation's reasoning to resolve them, the decision is counted as a victory. In such cases the court typically includes research and argument unique to the Foundation's brief in the decision. On rare occasions, the court will identify the Foundation by name in its decision. When a decision rejects the Foundation's reasoning it is counted as a loss. A decision which does not decide the issues argued by the Foundation is counted as a draw. Q: Who pays for the Foundation? A: The Foundation is supported by contributions from individuals, businesses and philanthropies who share an interest in improving the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. The Foundation does not ask for or receive financial support from any government entity. Q: Are contributions to the Foundation tax-deductible? A: Yes. The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation is a federally qualified tax-exempt organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible to the full extent provided by law. The Foundation also accepts tax-deductible contributions of stock and gifts in wills and trusts.