1899 L Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036-3804
Phone: 202-835-9075
Fax: 202-833-8561

Eric E. Sterling, President
E-mail: [email protected]

The Criminal Justice Policy Foundation is a private non-profit educational organization founded in 1988 to promote innovative solutions to problems facing the criminal justice system. It is a tax-exempt charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The foundation assists policy makers, business leaders, criminal justice professionals, community activists, clergy, educators, and the public to identify means to prevent crime and improve the quality of justice, through public education programs, publications, and at policy conferences.

The foundation provides support to the National Drug Strategy Network. The Network provides information and dialogue for a broad spectrum of persons concerned about the problems of drug abuse, and drug enforcement around the world. The Network generally does not take positions and is not a pro-legalization organization, but is generally critical of over-reliance on punitive and militaristic measures for addressing drug problems. The Network has a monthly newsletter, NEWSBRIEFS, and meets periodically in Washington, D.C.

On December 7, 1993, at a National Press Club luncheon attended by Eric E. Sterling and his guests, Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, M.D., suggested that the idea of legalizing drugs should be studied as a means to reduce violent crime. Sterling had submitted questions on this subject to the moderator. The Criminal Justice Policy Foundation had sent materials to the Surgeon General earlier in the year discussing the public health consequences of prohibition. Consequently, the foundation is regularly asked for information about drug policy from inquiries sparked by the Surgeon General's remarks.