Initial Meeting: January 4, 2017
Handouts collected:
- Full list of participants and positions of the 25 members. Chair is Judge Daniel M. Long. Vice Chair was nominated and elected at the meeting: V. Glenn Fueston, Jr., current Executive Director of Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention (GOCCP). Robert L. Green of the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation has been appointed as Chair of the Local Government Justice Reinvestment Commission.
- Fact Sheet—summary was presented by Chris Shank, Legislative Policy Director for Justice Reinvestment Act (JRA).
- The full text of the JRA.
- Report of the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board, Jan. 1, 2017. This report is 10 pages, noting the charge of the Board, review of study, six sentencing modifications, revised release policies, policies to enhance the effectiveness of community supervision, provisions to elevate the voices of victims of crime, oversight board plan, progress toward implementation of the JRA, next steps. https://goccp.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/justice-reinvestment-oversight-initial-report.pdf
- Presentation to JROB by Barbara J. Bazron, Executive Director of the Behavioral Health Administration
Proceedings:
Judge Long opened the session stating that the JRA is one of the most comprehensive and complex bills he has seen. It was a collaboration among all three branches of MD government and passed overwhelmingly. He noted that the Justice Reinvestment Act, (SB1005) was passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Hogan in May 2016 (SB1005/Chapter 515 of 2016). The Oversight Board is to oversee the reforms, reporting (i) status of progress toward implementation to the Governor and General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2017 (thus the handout above) and (ii) the projected financial impact of the implementation of this Act on local jurisdictions and correctional facilities.
He then asked each member to introduce him/herself and state their positions and experience to date with JRA.
Two speakers from the Bureau of Justice Assistance presented slides (no handout) covering 10 years of highlights of Justice Reinvestment Initiative in many states. At the bottom of the slides, partners indicated were the Pew Research Center (PEW), the Justice Center, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
Guests from the Crime and Justice Institute (CJI), Madelyn Ward and Barbra Pierce were recognized but did not speak. These consultants will work with the BJA, the CJI, and JRA Oversight Board members to plan the strategies to implement the JRA. The consultants will pull Board members into smaller subgroups to work together as they address specific topics of the JRA.
Chris Shank, Chair of Legislative Policy for Justice Reinvestment Act, reviewed the historical context and Fact Sheet (handout). He emphasized that justice reinvestment is a data-driven approach that will generate and reinvest savings. Maryland is the thirtieth state to do this.
Glenn Fueston stated that he was responsible for moving the process forward.into various stages. He mentioned two phases: (i) initial changes that will involve changing paradigms for many state agencies (thus forms, websites, etc.) and (ii) monitoring outcomes. Mr Fueston read the names of several reports that will be forthcoming from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention:
- A study of the state’s restitution and victim services processes;
- A study of organized retail theft;
- An analysis by local correctional facilities, in coordination with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and local health departments to determine the budgetary requirements of the Act;
- An employment study to identify potential barriers to employment, licensing, and
- entrepreneurship for individuals with a criminal record;
- A study to identify best practices for criminal referrals to mediation; and,
- An analysis to determine the gap between offender treatment needs and available services in the state.
Sen. Hough spoke favorably about JRA lowering recidivism and investing funds well. He emphasized the Performance Incentive Funding which is to be guided by the Local Justice Reinvestment Commissions in each county. Governor Hogan has already allocated nearly $1 million to select jurisdictions for this purpose through the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grants.
Delegate Kathleen Dumais noted that the JRA had been assigned to two committees:
(i) Judiciary, which she chairs, and
(ii) Health and Government Operations.
She said that during the legislation process, members of all agencies involved came in to talk with those committee members. It was a huge undertaking. Delegate Dumais also made mention of current efforts being made on Pretrial Justice reform.
Judge Morrissey noted appreciation for the extra time given to implement all these activities. The collaborative effect set up by the Act will create a better matrix for all branches. One of his main concerns is Mental Health treatment and the availability of facilities.
Presentation (handout available) by Barbara Bazron, Executive Director, Behavioral Health Administration. She noted the role of
- H-G 8-505—structured approach for the Court to divert individuals with substance use disorders from jail/prison to treatment. 1,200 individual have received assessments.
- H-G 8-507—requires DHMH to facilitate treatment services for those who have been assessed as needing treatment. 400 have received assessments.
In closing, Director Bazron mentioned the recent agreement with the Federal Government which would allow expanded Medicare coverage for Maryland’s incarcerated population. See: http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/maryland-health/bs-hs-medicaid-waiver-20161227-story.html
Closing: The Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board is required to meet four times per year. Judge Long did not set the next date as he is awaiting his replacement in Somerset County. He noted that he wants to meet with each member individually before the next group meeting. Before closing, Robert Green spoke to the need for better data and the development of a Justice Reinvestment “dashboard” to track both problems and successes.
MAJR warmly thanks reporters Barbara Thomas, Jim Rose, and Candy Clark for this summary.
