Maryland Youth Justice Coalition
@mdyouthjustice.bsky.social
The Maryland Youth Justice Coalition is a group of organizations committed to transforming our youth justice system and giving kids #CareNotCages.
Read the full story at www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
New leader makes changes at Juvenile Services following oversight report
The Maryland agency made three personnel changes after an Office of the Correctional Ombudsman report found fault in DJS operations.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
August 4, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Read the full story at www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
The MD Department of Juvenile Services made three personnel changes after a report found fault in DJS operations. Wilkerson of MYJC said the report’s findings show, “once again, why incarcerating young people should be avoided, or used only as a last resort” and called on the state to “do better.”
August 4, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The MD Department of Juvenile Services made three personnel changes after a report found fault in DJS operations. Wilkerson of MYJC said the report’s findings show, “once again, why incarcerating young people should be avoided, or used only as a last resort” and called on the state to “do better.”
👏 "Baltimore’s achievement shows that real, lasting safety comes from addressing violence at its source, not from adding years to prison sentences." Read and learn from Natasha Dartigue: www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/21/r...
Real public safety solutions are powered by the community | GUEST COMMENTARY
The historic decline in gun violence in Baltimore represents the direct result of strategic community-based interventions, writes Natasha Dartigue.
www.baltimoresun.com
June 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
👏 "Baltimore’s achievement shows that real, lasting safety comes from addressing violence at its source, not from adding years to prison sentences." Read and learn from Natasha Dartigue: www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/21/r...
Must read from former Secretary Schiraldi on why Maryland must end automatically charging kids as adults: www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/26/s...
Schiraldi: Why I left Department of Juvenile Services | GUEST COMMENTARY
Maryland’s youth defendants are “languishing in custody while the wheels of adult courts slowly grind,” writes Vincent Schiraldi, the former secretary of the Department of Juvenil…
www.baltimoresun.com
June 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Must read from former Secretary Schiraldi on why Maryland must end automatically charging kids as adults: www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/26/s...
Learn more about the Secretary Fox Tolentino's vision for DJS: www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Maryland’s juvenile services agency gets a leader with deep roots and high stakes
Hard conversations will come, but Betsy Fox Tolentino said she’ll listen to law enforcement partners, community members and staff.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
June 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Learn more about the Secretary Fox Tolentino's vision for DJS: www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Read Student Justice Alliance founder and River Hill High School student Alvin Lee's guest commentary on abuse and the need for reform in the youth justice system at www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/23/j...
Justice for Maryland’s youth still has a ways to go | GUEST COMMENTARY
The movement for juvenile justice reform is increasingly necessary, writes Alvin Lee.
www.baltimoresun.com
June 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Read Student Justice Alliance founder and River Hill High School student Alvin Lee's guest commentary on abuse and the need for reform in the youth justice system at www.baltimoresun.com/2025/06/23/j...
Visit www.npr.org/2025/06/05/n... to read the NPR article.
@govwesmoore.bsky.social @senbillferg.bsky.social
@govwesmoore.bsky.social @senbillferg.bsky.social
Maryland fails to protect young inmates in adult jails
Some youth in Maryland spend more than a year in adult jails before seeing their day in court. Without a fix, the state may lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funding every year.
www.npr.org
June 5, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Visit www.npr.org/2025/06/05/n... to read the NPR article.
@govwesmoore.bsky.social @senbillferg.bsky.social
@govwesmoore.bsky.social @senbillferg.bsky.social
It's time for our leaders to act and end the autocharging of youth as adults, and protect our youth – our future – from these heinous conditions. Accountability can come without furthering trauma and harm. Let's make a better future for our young people together.
June 5, 2025 at 6:23 PM
It's time for our leaders to act and end the autocharging of youth as adults, and protect our youth – our future – from these heinous conditions. Accountability can come without furthering trauma and harm. Let's make a better future for our young people together.
When political leaders like Ivan Bates say that kids need accountability, and should be sent to adult facilities, this is what they are advocating for. Compounding trauma and 'tough on crime' policies that will not keep ANYONE safe. We've seen how this goes.
June 5, 2025 at 6:23 PM
When political leaders like Ivan Bates say that kids need accountability, and should be sent to adult facilities, this is what they are advocating for. Compounding trauma and 'tough on crime' policies that will not keep ANYONE safe. We've seen how this goes.
This piece from Rachel Baye featured on NPR today via WYPR tells a haunting story. Because we have 33 crimes that lead youth to automatically be charged as adults, we lead the country in the number of youth charged as adults, second only to Alabama.
June 5, 2025 at 6:23 PM
This piece from Rachel Baye featured on NPR today via WYPR tells a haunting story. Because we have 33 crimes that lead youth to automatically be charged as adults, we lead the country in the number of youth charged as adults, second only to Alabama.
This will cost us in so many ways, from the loss of federal funding as a penalty, to the trauma and suffering we are inflicting on a generation of young people – specifically young Black boys.
June 5, 2025 at 6:23 PM
This will cost us in so many ways, from the loss of federal funding as a penalty, to the trauma and suffering we are inflicting on a generation of young people – specifically young Black boys.