Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced the appointment of Jennifer Jones Austin as Chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), the nation's largest independent police oversight entity. As Chair, Jones Austin will advance the Mamdani administration's whole-of-government approach to public safety by strengthening accountability, building public trust and ensuring every New Yorker is treated with dignity.
The appointment marks the first time the CCRB has had a permanent chair since 2020.
Interim Chair Sherene Crawford, Esq., will continue to serve as a member of the CCRB Board.
"Jennifer Jones Austin has spent her career standing with New Yorkers who are too often shut out of the halls of power. She understands that public safety and accountability go hand in hand, and that trust must be earned through action. Jennifer will lead the CCRB with integrity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to justice. I am grateful she has answered the call to serve our city," said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. "I also want to thank Sherene Crawford for her steady leadership during this period of transition. Because of her service, the Board continued its essential work without interruption."
"I am honored to serve as Chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board. Trust between government and the communities we serve lay at the heart of public safety. It is our responsibility as public servants to deepen trust by promoting transparency and integrity through our every action," said Chair Jennifer Jones Austin. "As Chair, I will work to advance CCRB's critical mission of accountability and look forward to the work ahead."
"Jennifer Jones Austin has dedicated her career to advancing fairness, accountability, and opportunity for New Yorkers, and I am proud to join Mayor Mamdani in appointing her as Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board. She brings decades of respected public service, deep experience building consensus, and an unwavering commitment to strengthening trust between government and the communities it serves. I look forward to working with Jennifer to support the CCRB's critical mission of ensuring independent oversight, promoting transparency and helping build a stronger relationship between the NYPD and the people of New York City," said Speaker Julie Menin.
"Jennifer Jones Austin has devoted her career to advancing civil rights, expanding opportunity and ensuring that government works for every New Yorker. There is no one better suited to lead the Civilian Complaint Review Board at this critical moment. I know she will bring her faith and her unfaltering sense of justice to this role, delivering for those whose needs are too often ignored. I congratulate Jennifer on this well-deserved appointment, and I look forward to working with her on behalf of all New Yorkers," said Attorney General Letitia James.
"Jennifer Jones Austin has been a trusted leader and unwavering advocate for justice for many years. As Vice Chair of the National Action Network, she has stood on the front lines of the fight for police accountability while helping us build constructive relationships with those in law enforcement who are committed to reform. Jennifer understands that meaningful change requires both accountability and partnership - working outside the system to demand justice while engaging inside the system to achieve lasting reform. She brings the experience, credibility, and judgment this moment demands, and I believe she will make an outstanding Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board," said Reverend Al Sharpton.
"Jennifer is a fearless and principled leader with an exceptional ability for bringing constituencies of different backgrounds and points of view together. During our time serving on the New York City Racial Justice Commission, she led the development of three charter amendment proposals through a robust public engagement process. The overwhelming voter approval of those amendments is a testament to her commitment to equity, justice, and ensuring every voice is heard. Jennifer will serve the CCRB and the residents of New York City well," said Henry Garrido, Executive Director of District Council 37 AFSCME.
"Jennifer Jones Austin is an outstanding leader who understands why trust in the criminal justice system is essential for public safety. She is a passionate advocate for equal justice under the law and brings a wealth of advocacy and government experience that will serve the needs of all New Yorkers. I look forward to partnering to deliver safety and fairness," said District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
"Jennifer Jones Austin has devoted her career to advancing justice, fairness and opportunity for New Yorkers, bringing compassion, sound judgment and a deep commitment justice to her work. These qualities are essential to the leadership of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, whose credibility and independence are central to ensuring accountability and strengthening trust between law enforcement and our communities. I am confident that Jennifer will be an outstanding Chair and will lead the CCRB's essential work with integrity and fairness," said District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
"Jennifer Jones Austin has spent her career fighting to make our city more just, by making it more accountable. Her decades of leadership on criminal justice reform, racial justice, and public service have earned the respect of communities across New York City. I congratulate Jennifer on her appointment as Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board and know she will lead with integrity, fairness, and a steadfast commitment to strengthening public trust. At a time when accountability and transparency are more important than ever, New Yorkers will be well served by her thoughtful, experienced leadership," said Council Member Yusef Salaam.
"Police accountability in this city only works if the CCRB is empowered to do its job, and that starts with strong leadership at the top," said Council Member Chi Ossé. "Jennifer Jones Austin has spent decades fighting for New Yorkers, our systems too often fail, and she brings both the qualifications and moral clarity this moment demands. I am proud that Mayor Mamdani and his administration are prioritizing this appointment, and I look forward to working with the incoming Chair to ensure the CCRB has the independence, the resources, and the standing it needs to do its job."
"The Legal Aid Society congratulates Jennifer Jones Austin on her appointment as Chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board. Jennifer's decades of experience advancing civil rights and social justice, coupled with her leadership across government on accountability and public safety issues, make her exceptionally well qualified to lead the CCRB at this critical moment," said Twyla Carter, Attorney-in-Chief and Chief Executive Officer of The Legal Aid Society. "The CCRB is essential to ensuring that allegations of police misconduct are investigated independently and that New Yorkers have meaningful civilian oversight of the NYPD. A strong, independent, and well-resourced watchdog with the authority to carry out its mandate effectively is critical to protecting the rights of New Yorkers. We look forward to working with Chair Jones Austin to ensure the CCRB has the tools it needs to fulfill that mission."
"The CCRB deserves a strong permanent chair like Jennifer Jones Austin who will fight for the agency and is committed to accountability and respect for civil rights. Jennifer Jones Austin has a long record of pushing for justice, including her advocacy for fairer policing and criminal system reforms like alternatives to harsh criminal penalties for young people. We look forward to continued advocacy before the CCRB under her leadership to advance justice for New Yorkers whose rights have been violated by the NYPD," said Donna Lieberman, NYCLU Executive Director.
"New York Communities for Change enthusiastically welcomes the appointment of Jennifer Jones Austin to the Civilian Complaint Review Board. Born and raised in Brooklyn, in a neighborhood where many of our members live today, she brings both a personal understanding of our communities and a distinguished record of public service. Her legal expertise, combined with her leadership as CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies and as Senior Vice President of United Way of New York City, has been defined by a steadfast commitment to justice, opportunity, and fighting poverty. We are confident she will serve on the CCRB with integrity, transparency, and a strong commitment to protecting the rights of all New Yorkers while helping restore public trust in this vital oversight body. We congratulate Jennifer Jones Austin on her appointment and look forward to her leadership," said James Iniss, New York Communities for Change.
"I want to thank Sherene Crawford for her productive and effective tenure as Interim Chair, and I am glad she will continue to serve on the Board. Ms. Jones-Austin's experience in the criminal justice arena, including serving as Deputy Chief of the Civil Rights Bureau for the New York State Attorney General, Chair of the New York City Board of Correction, and leader of the NYPD Reform and Reinvention Collaborative, make her an ideal chair for the CCRB," said Jonathan Darche, CCRB Executive Director.
"The CCRB will be well served by Jennifer Jones Austin's leadership as its Chair. I am confident she'll continue and build upon the vital work this Agency does on behalf of all New Yorkers, and I look forward to working with her in my capacity as a Board Member," said CCRB Board Member Sherene Crawford.
About Jennifer Jones Austin:
Jennifer Jones Austin is a fourth-generation faith and social justice leader who has dedicated her career to advancing equity and expanding opportunity for New Yorkers.
As CEO and Executive Director of Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), an anti-poverty policy and advocacy organization representing 170 member agencies and faith partners, Jones Austin has led successful efforts to strengthen the social safety net and advance policies that empower disenfranchised and marginalized communities. Her work has focused on the intersection of race, poverty, law and public policy.
Jones Austin previously chaired the New York City Racial Justice Commission, the first municipal racial justice commission of its kind in the nation and served as Chair of the New York City Board of Correction, where she oversaw the rulemaking process that ended solitary confinement in New York City jails.
She currently serves as Vice Chair of the National Action Network board and has held leadership roles on numerous public and nonprofit commissions, including the New York State 400 Years of African American History Commission, Fordham University's Feerick Center for Social Justice Advisory Board, Harvard University's Center for Law, Brain and Behavior Advisory Board and the COVID-19 "Roll Up Your Sleeves" Task Force. She was also a Visiting Scholar at New York University's Silver School of Social Work and Scholar in Residence at Alliance University's Center for Racial Reconciliation (CRR).
Jones Austin served as co-chair of Mayor Bill de Blasio's transition team and advised the City's universal prekindergarten expansion and NYPD Reform and Reinvention Collaborative.
She is the author of Consider it Pure Joy and editor of God in the Ghetto: A Prophetic World Revisited.
Jones Austin earned a juris doctor from Fordham University School of Law, a Master of Science in management and policy from New York University's Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University.
