We Need You To VOTE!
Support Senate Bill 537 / House Bill 1058 to create the Youth Delinquency Prevention Fund.
On behalf of the Maryland Association of Youth Service Bureaus, we write to urge your support for Senate Bill 537/House Bill 1058.
On behalf of the Maryland Association of Youth Service Bureaus, we write to urge your support for Senate Bill 537/House Bill 1058, a bill to create the Youth Delinquency Prevention Fund.
Just today, a Racial Impact Note was posted, making clear that this is an important measure to help address disparities in our systems. While there is no mandated appropriation in this legislation, creating this fund will allow for future savings from the reforms this committee has supported to be invested in prevention services.
The Racial Impact Note confirms the role of Youth Service Bureaus in diversion strategy.
The Racial Impact Note confirms that Youth Service Bureaus and other predelinquent diversion programs are a major component of DJS’s strategy for diversion of youth from the school-to-prison pipeline.
Our community-based interventions are tailored to the specific contexts of the populations we serve. Our localized approaches enhance program accessibility and effectiveness, particularly for historically marginalized communities that may distrust formal justice institutions.
By addressing both individual and structural factors, YSBs and our partner organizations play a critical role in interrupting pathways into the juvenile justice system.
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As such, expanding investment in these programs through the Youth Delinquency Prevention Fund would represent a shift toward preventative, community-driven solutions that advance both public safety and racial equity.