The New York State Coalition for Criminal Justice, Center for Justice Education, Inc. was founded in 1974 in Rochester, New York as the New York State Committee for Criminal Justice. It adopted the name New York State Coalition for Criminal Justice later in 1974. In the early 1970s a number of Rochester community leaders became concerned about "the effectiveness and fairness of local criminal justice operations", specifically focusing their concerns on police brutality, court procedures, and jail conditions. They formed the Task Force on the Courts under the leadership of Church Women United. In early 1972, Rochester's Judicial Process Commission (RJPC), lead by Virginia Mackey and Carolyn Micklem, was created under the auspices of the Genesee Ecumenical Ministry. The RJPC won considerable state and national recognition for its work.

Following the suppression of the Attica prison uprising in 1971, the Judicial Process Commission (JPC) initiated a state wide assessment of the underlying causes of the Attica tragedy. The JPC established ties with the lobbyists of statewide organizations such as the Urban Coalition, Community Service Society, the Citizen's Union, the New York State Council of Churches, and other groups forming the New York State Coalition for Criminal Justice. The Coalition's mission was to increase New York State citizens' knowledge and understanding of the laws, structure, policies and practices of the criminal justice system. In addition, the Coalition advocated alternative correctional policy choices, and devised and coordinated strategies to improve the quality of criminal justice in New York State. The Coalition for Criminal Justice formed the Rapid Communication Network in 1975, to inform and mobilize public opinion on issues related to criminal justice. The RCN relays weekly information from Albany to satellite networks spread across the state. The chair person of the coalition was also the head of the network, and held satellite training conferences for the various coordinators and policy committee members.

The New York State Coalition for Criminal Justice is governed by a Board of Directors, who determines the nature and content of the coalition's programs. Board Members are appointed by incorporators, on a two year basis and members may be reelected for a succeeding two years. The board passes motions by majority vote, and consists of no fewer than seven members, but no more than nine. The board appoints a President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer who serve one term and carry out the work of the coalition. The Board of Directors may also form committees when necessary. Day to day operations are carried out by a paid director, first appointed in 1976. The first paid director of the coalition was Irene Jackson. There are two yearly meetings of the board, and one of the membership.

The programs and policies of the organization are established by the Board of Directors. There are three classes of directors, elected by all voting members, directors elected by caucuses, and directors selected by sustaining organizational members. In all, the Board includes twenty-five members with one year terms. Officers of the Board of Directors included chairperson (president), vice chairperson (vice president), director (chief administrator), secretary, and treasurer. The chairperson of the board appoints the chairs of committees. Several committees were created including, the nominations committee, membership, finance and fund raising, legislative, personnel, executive, and the policy committee which was the most important committee.

Membership by application is open to all individuals and organizations with a proven interest in supporting the principles of the organization, and who pay the dues set by the Board of Directors. ["Background History the New York State Coalition for Criminal Justice"]. The organization has four classes of membership, individual membership, supporting organization membership, which includes any organization providing significant financial support, organizational membership, which includes any organization supporting the reform of the criminal justice system, and last, an associate member, that is someone whose membership may cause a conflict of interest. All members had one vote, except the associate members who had none. The initial location of the organization was 362 State Street, but in 1978 it moved to the First Presbyterian Church within walking distance of the capitol.

Prominent organizational leaders included the first Chair Person/Director & Coordinator Irene Jackson 1976-82, Administrative Assistant/Assistant Director (1978-82) and Interim Director (1982-83) Diane Geary, Director Richard V. Avant, 1983, and Executive Director Van Zwisohn, 1984-, Policy Committee Chairs Camille Smith (1978-79) and Douglas McDonald (1979-80), and Good-Time Project Coordinator (1981-82) Planning and Legislative Coordinator (1982-83) and Assistant Director (1983) Peter Pollack.

Funding of the organization was provided through membership fees, gifts from member organizations, and a grant from the New York Council of Churches.