Director, Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center
Plenary Moderator/Presenter: Breaking Schools’ Rules: A Statewide Study on How School Discipline Relates to Students’ Success and Juvenile Justice Involvement
Breakout Session Moderator/Presenter: Using Federal, State and Local data to Inform Change
Michael Thompson is the director of the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center. The Justice Center serves policymakers seeking practical, nonpartisan advice and consensus-driven strategies, informed by available evidence, to increase public safety and strengthen communities. Mike has been with CSG since 1997, transforming its regional criminal justice program employing one person into a nationally known organization with a staff of 45 people with offices in New York City, Bethesda, Maryland, Austin, Texas, and Seattle. During his tenure, he has launched and overseen various national policy initiatives, including the Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project, the Reentry Policy Council, and the Justice Reinvestment Initiative. These efforts have prompted congressional hearings, federal legislation, national news coverage, and bipartisan legislative and programmatic initiatives in states across the country. Prior to joining CSG, Mike worked for the Office of the Court Monitor, established by a U.S. District Court Judge, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He received his B.A. from Middlebury College, where he graduated with honors.