Who is listening?

The members of the Juvenile Justice Reform Council. Listening sessions are an opportunity for the Juvenile Justice Reform Council to receive input from individuals and organizations to help the Council identify areas that the Council should focus on when creating their recommendations.

Who is speaking?

Any community member is welcome to attend and provide testimony. While anyone may speak, the Council would especially like to hear from youth and parents. Public testimony could include such topics as education, family and youth engagement, community safety, community programs, behavioral health, and substance abuse. Everyone who signs up will have three minutes to share their thoughts with the Council.

Event Overview:

The Juvenile Justice Reform Council, in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Juvenile Services, wants to hear from you about existing community assets, needs, and opportunities for enhancements in the area of juvenile justice. Your testimony and feedback will inform the priorities of the Juvenile Justice Reform Council.

During the 2019 session of the Maryland General Assembly, the legislature passed and Governor Hogan signed Senate Bill 856/House Bill 6062 establishing the Juvenile Justice Reform Council (JJRC), which is to be staffed by the Department of Legislative Services. The JJRC is charged with:

1. using a data-driven approach to develop a statewide framework of policies to invest in strategies to increase public safety and reduce recidivism of youth offenders;

2. researching best practices for the treatment of juveniles who are subject to the criminal and juvenile justice systems; and

3. identifying and making recommendations to limit or otherwise mitigate risk factors that contribute to juvenile contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

There will be 30 slots at each session for community members to provide testimony. Testimony sign up will begin 30 minutes before the event and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. All testimony will be recorded and made public by the Maryland State Department of Juvenile Services. You are welcome to attend even if you do not wish to provide testimony.

If you have any questions, please contact Khalilah Slater Harrington at kharrington@familyleague.org.

Download the event flyer here.