Center for Children's Law and Policy

09/20/2021

Reminder to RSVP for CCLP’s Symposium and Celebration in Washington, DC on December 6th!

Reminder to RSVP for CCLP’s Symposium and Celebration in Washington, DC on December 6th! - https://mailchi.mp/cclp.org/symposiumandcclpceleb-reminder

09/01/2021

COVID-19 and California’s Detained Youth: Vulnerable and Overlooked

Very informative article published by UC Berkeley written by Sue Burrell and Shannan Wilber. This article discusses the vulnerabilities of detained youth in California during Covid 19, the actions and inactions of relevant agencies, and recommendations for improving emergency response systems for detained youth.

https://escholarship.org/uc/item/446204fq#main

Author(s): Burrell, Sue; Wilber, Shannan | Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented and ongoing calamity, laying bare the vulnerabilities of California’s public health and emergency response systems. Although youth confined in juvenile detention facilities are among those at highest ris...

08/17/2021

December 6, 2021: You are invited! CCLP’s Symposium and Celebration in Washington, DC!

December 6, 2021: You are invited! CCLP’s Symposium and Celebration in Washington, DC! - https://mailchi.mp/cclp.org/symposiumandcclpceleb

08/09/2021

Executive Director Search: Center for Children’s Law and Policy

Haven't heard the news yet?! CCLP's Founder and Executive Director, Mark Soler, has announced his retirement at the end of 2021! We'll be celebrating Mark and the 15th anniversary of CCLP's founding in DC with a symposium and party on December 6, 2021. In the meantime, are you interested in leading CCLP into the next chapter of its advocacy (or do you know someone who would be a great fit to do so)? If so, please pass along the link to our executive search, managed by our friends at Nonprofit HR!

08/06/2021

Check out this great Op-Ed in the New Haven Register regarding recent narratives around youth, race, and crime in Connecticut. And don't forget to join the Connecticut Justice Alliance's press conference at 11am today at the Connecticut State Capitol and online via the Alliance's Facebook live stream!

https://www.nhregister.com/opinion/article/Opinion-If-you-re-invested-in-CT-s-youth-16366674.php?fbclid=IwAR1w1SQ_-PcEsiheGUIpCI0RN8JswDi1saDzfcJxGk_OUJvmvUAJqlB_fMw

06/09/2021

The Personal Impact of the War on Drugs on the People of Maryland

Should out to the Drug Policy Workgroup of the People's Commission to Decriminalize Maryland for a great event yesterday! Youth Workgroup member Nikita Mason was one of the great guest panelists sharing how the War on Drugs negatively impacts Maryland's most vulnerable communities. If you missed it on Facebook Live, you can check it out at the link below! #decrimmaryland #decrim DecrimMaryland

05/21/2021

One Cell, a Lifetime of Pain: Waking to the Truth of Solitary Confinement

A powerful piece from @Arnold_Ventures on the psychological effects of #solitary confinement.

Behind prison’s steel doors, a staggering number of people are held in isolation for months, years, even decades, and many will leave broken in mind and body. Now, some states are realizing they’ve gone too far in the name of punishment.

04/15/2021

Announcing the 2021 Truman Scholars | The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation

CCLP would like to congratulate our former intern Sarah Beisner on being named a 2021 Truman Scholar! We appreciate her endless dedication in advocating for children in the system and we know she will continue to do amazing work!

Read more about the 2021 Truman Scholars here https://www.truman.gov/whats-new/announcing-2021-truman-scholars

WASHINGTON, DC – Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Board of Trustees President of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, announced today the 62 exceptional college students from 51 U.S. colleges and universities selected as 2021 Truman Scholars. The Truman Scholarship is the pr...

03/22/2021

Opinion: Let’s Give Police More Options to Help Md.’s Youth – Maryland Matters

Check out this great new Op-Ed in Maryland Matters on the need to expand access to diversion from CCLP's Tiana Davis on behalf of the People's Commission to Decriminalize Maryland and Emily Mooney of R Street Institute! DecrimMaryland #decrimmaryland

https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/03/20/opinion-lets-give-police-more-options-to-help-md-s-youth/

Maryland’s Juvenile Justice Reform Council has wrapped up its final report and recommendations, and the associated legislative package is making its way through the General Assembly. Several of those recommendations focus on giving law enforcement agencies more diversion options for youth. Amid ca...

02/08/2021

- CCLP

In case you missed it, check out CCLP's statement on the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, The Message to Our Children:

https://www.cclp.org/messagetoourchildren/

The Message to Our Children At the Center for Children’s Law and Policy, we feel revulsion and disgust at the violence on January 6 and the lawless efforts to deny the will of the voters. Every day more videos show the horrific violence in the Capitol building by goons and rioters bent on overturn...

02/03/2021

CCLP is honored to be part of Delegate Sheila Ruth's decriminalization Town Hall on repealing unjust laws this coming Saturday, February 6th, at 5pm. Tiana Davis will present to share our work with The People's Commission to Decriminalize Maryland, along with our People's Commission Youth Workgroup Chair, Kendra Marsh. Thank you, Delegate Ruth, for your leadership on these issues!

Justice Policy Institute Open Society Institute-Baltimore Baltimore Action Legal Team

Please join me for a virtual town hall on repealing unjust laws on February 6, 2021 at 5:00pm. Register here: http://bit.ly/repealevent

In Maryland, there are unjust laws that continue to reinforce structural racism and target low-income communities of color across our state. Decriminalization provides a solution to properly eliminate these policies and practices, and focus instead on actions that do not require police, courts and corrections responses. 

The disparate impact of these unjust criminal laws should be at the forefront of political discourse which is why I am sponsoring two bills that will:

Repeal Failure to Obey (HB0640) - This bill will repeal Criminal Law §10–201(c)(3): A person may not willfully fail to obey a reasonable and lawful order that a law enforcement officer makes to prevent a disturbance to the public peace. The "Failure to Obey" law is often used to justify otherwise unwarranted or unlawful arrests. It disproportionately impacts Black, Brown, unhoused, and disabled people.

Repeal Disruption of Education (HB700) - This bill will repeal MD Educ Code § 26-101(a): "A person may not willfully disturb or otherwise willfully prevent the orderly conduct of the activities, administration, or classes of any institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education." Currently, this is a misdemeanor "subject to a fine not exceeding $2,500, imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or both." This statute criminalizes normal childhood behavior that should be handled with appropriate internal school discipline, and is disproportionally used against Black children and children of color. It plays a role in propagating the school-to-prison pipeline.

We need to start having these conversations, no matter how uncomfortable and unconventional they may seem. They are necessary for our state to move forward and provide the justice our citizens have been denied for so long and have always deserved. Join me and speakers from The Center of Children's Law and Policy, the Coalition to Reform School Discipline, Disability Rights Maryland, the Homeless Persons Representation Project, and The People’s Commission to Decriminalize Maryland to discuss this important issue at a virtual town hall on Saturday February 6th, 2021 at 5pm. Please register here: http://bit.ly/repealevent

I look forward to seeing you there.
#decrimmaryland #decriminalization

02/01/2021

Register now for what promises to be a powerful TEDx event featuring none other than CCLP's Policy Director for Equity and Justice, Tiana Davis. Community Justice: From Trauma to Connection - registration link in the post below!

Register now for our first event of the new year: TEDxFSCJ Adventure: Community Justice: From Trauma to Connection.

Hosted by Kimberly Hall, Professor of Criminal Justice at Florida State College at Jacksonville, and Alyssa Beck, a Survivor Mentor at the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center in Jacksonville, Florida, our evening will feature:
• Tiana Davis, Policy Director for Equity and Justice, Center for Children's Law and Policy in Washington, DC
• Jacquelyn Green, Community Development Administrator, Florida Department of Children and Families
• Kelly Roy Kemp, Deputy, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office
• Taina Angeli Vargas, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Initiate Justice in Los Angeles, California
This virtual event is free and open to the public, but all attendees must register.
The event will be held February 11, 7-9 p.m. EST. Online check-in begins at 6:50 p.m. EST.
To register, visit: tedxfscjcommunityjustice.eventbrite.com.

12/31/2020

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! - https://mailchi.mp/cclp.org/givingtuesday-4823462

12/22/2020

Happy Holidays from CCLP

https://mailchi.mp/cclp.org/givingtuesday-4812794

12/10/2020

Opinion: It’s Time to Expand Concept, Scope of Police Reform – Maryland Matters

"Maryland’s code contains many laws that bring young people, and disproportionately youth of color, to the attention of the justice system. Most often, this is for typically adolescent behaviors, reflecting how we have marginalized large segments of Maryland’s youth."

Maryland’s legislature will convene again in January; though anything but a typical year, bills will be introduced to reform the criminal justice system. Many bills, as currently drafted, focus on the important issue of police reform – which has received much deserved attention in recent months....

12/02/2020

#ThankYou!

#ThankYou! - https://mailchi.mp/cclp.org/givingtuesday-4796706

12/01/2020

#GivingTuesday- Today is the day!

#GivingTuesday- Today is the day! - https://mailchi.mp/cclp.org/givingtuesday-4794862

11/30/2020

#GivingTuesday - https://mailchi.mp/cclp.org/givingtuesday-4794618

11/24/2020

#GivingTuesday

Hi Friends,

Please join CCLP as we participate in this year’s #GivingTuesday!
#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that takes place December 1st this year. That’s right — following Black Friday and Cyber Monday!
What better way to start getting into the holiday giving-back spirit?

We’d love if you participated with us. The best way to do that is to share our cause on social media using the hashtag(s) #GivingTuesday #The_CCLP #SSK and join millions of global givers on December 1st.

Your donation will help us continue to work with jurisdictions to create policies and programs that are designed to see the potential in all youth and help them thrive, even if they are involved with the justice system.

Mark your calendars, spread the word, and stay tuned for more details!

11/23/2020

Human Rights for Kids

CCLP was honored to be part of this important discussion last Friday on World Children's Day. Thanks to all of our Maryland-based and national partners for holding policymakers accountable for needed youth justice reforms!

Please be sure to watch this virtual discussion hosted by Advocates for Children and Youth and DecrimMaryland, featuring HRFK and its partners R Street Institute, Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Maryland Catholic Conference, and the Center for Children's Law and Policy where we explored how Maryland fared in our 2020 National State Ratings Report on Children's Rights Day!

11/17/2020

Join the Maryland Youth Justice Coalition in partnership with the People's Commission to Decriminalize Maryland on the International World Children’s Day this Friday at 10am for a virtual discussion on reforms needed in Maryland during the 2021 Legislative Session. The purpose of this discussion is to inspire policy change by uplifting the youth justice best practices of other top ranked states. Register now through the link in the attached flyer and below! #WorldChildrensDay #decrimmaryland

Thank you to CCLP's partners at Maryland Advocates for Children and Youth and Human Rights for Kids for including us in this event!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-does-maryland-treat-kids-2020-national-state-rankings-tickets-129238833831?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch

11/05/2020

Early Signs Show How the COVID-19 Pandemic Is Hurting Washington's Foster Youth

Early Signs Show How the COVID-19 Pandemic Is Hurting Washington's Foster Youth

It's hard to say exactly how foster youth are faring through the COVID-19 pandemic, but a new report offers an early glimpse.

11/03/2020

CCLP Fall Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/cclp.org/cclp-fall-newsletter

10/09/2020

Covid-19 Youth Justice

Have officials in your jurisdiction implemented reforms to the youth justice system based on the COVID-19 pandemic, or are they returning to past practices? COVID-19 is on the rise. Let’s advocate for youth justice professionals to do their part to keep youth and staff safe with this reminder from the Center for Children’s Law and Policy.

10/08/2020

Covid 19- Youth Justice

States have begun to open up, but this is no time to let up! COVID-19 is on the rise, and it is time to double down on the commitments we made back when the pandemic began, focusing on Black and Brown youth who have been left behind in our response. The Center for Children’s Law and Policy shows us how we can all play a part with this new illustration. Please share this widely with your networks, and let’s keep the pressure up to sustain the progress that was made in the early phases of the pandemic. It would be a mistake and missed opportunity if we didn’t learn important lessons from this time. Learn more here: https://www.cclp.org/animated-graphic-reducing-the-spread-of-covid-19-in-youth-justice-systems/

09/28/2020

Report - Lives on the Line

There's no path forward from this pandemic without addressing the horrors happening behind bars. Learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on incarcerated people and women with incarcerated loved ones from @essie4justice & @ColorOfChange new report: https://livesontheline.org/report/

Report Lives on the line: Women with Incarcerated Loved Ones and the Impact of COVID-19 Behind Bars Download the Report Our survey data illustrates that prisons, jails, and detention centers are both fundamentally incapable of keeping incarcerated people safe and willfully neglecting to take basic p...

09/22/2020

Eventbrite

Please join our friends at Juvenile Justice Advocates International for their first Virtual Celebration to help children living in detention centers in Mexico and Latin America get a brighter future. You can join the live stream too on October 8th. RSVP at http://www.eventbrite.com/.../a-future-for-every-child... and don't forget to #DONATE!

None

09/08/2020

Maryland residents! Please join us for two upcoming conversations related to our work with the People's Commission to Decriminalize Maryland: Sept. 10 at 6 PM and Sept. 15 at 12 PM. Participants from any region can join the meeting that works best for their schedule. The links to registration and the survey are below. We can't wait to see you there!

The new registration link can be found at: https://buff.ly/2Zacwm6
The survey can be found at: https://buff.ly/3gV6QlL

Happy Friday, everyone! After holding our first two webinars, we took several elements into consideration and have updated our webinars accordingly! We will now be hosting two webinars - on Sept. 10 at 6PM and Sept. 15 at 12PM - that will both be statewide. Participants from any region can now join the meeting that works best for their schedule. We will, however, still offer an opportunity for people from different regions to discuss what issues are important to them in break out sessions! The links to registration and the survey are below. We can't wait to see you there!

The new registration link can be found at: https://buff.ly/2Zacwm6
The survey can be found at: https://buff.ly/3gV6QlL

08/26/2020

DecrimMD's second regional webinar will be tomorrow, August 27th, at 6PM for the Capital Region! This includes Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties. You can attend this and any other of the regional webinars by registering on our website - which can be found at the link in our bio. And be sure to take the survey (link below)!

DecrimMD's second regional webinar will be on August 27th at 6PM for the Capital Region! This includes Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties. You can attend this and any other of the regional webinars by registering on our website - which can be found at the link in our bio. And be sure to take our survey! https://www.decrimmaryland.org/post/we-want-to-hear-from-you-regional-survey-and-listening-sessions

We want to make the most of these webinars and learn how we can best serve you.