Restorative Justice Programs for Young Offenders Begin in Maryland

July 11, 2016

More Than $800,000 in Funding Awarded to Diversion Programs for Low-Level Juvenile Offenders

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today announced programs that provide individualized treatment for juvenile offenders and their families will now be available in 11 jurisdictions across the state. Some of these will be restorative justice programs, which are based on the premise that the offender harmed not only the victim, but the community as a whole, and that justice involves not only accountability on the offender’s part, but an effort to make amends and to earn the community’s trust.

“Crime has a significant impact on our communities as a whole,” said Governor Hogan. “By providing these type of restorative programs, it not only holds young people accountable for their actions, it gives them access to resources that provide the treatment and services they need to become stable, productive members of our communities.”

“Diverting low-level juvenile offenders to supervision programs in their communities helps them avoid deeper involvement in the juvenile justice system, and increases their opportunities for success by providing access to support from their schools, families, and community resources,” said Glenn Fueston, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention. “At the same time, we reserve expensive detention resources for juvenile offenders who must be held in order to protect the community.”

The federal funding for these programs is from the Title II Formula Grant, a grant program administered by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, part of the U.S. Department of Justice. In addition, Crime Control & Prevention awarded more than $300,000 in state funding to implement similar juvenile justice programs and initiatives. These programs are listed here.