Black Leadership Convenes for a Better Maryland

Businesses owners, community organizations, policy makers, and area university faculty and staff have come together to form the Better Maryland Committee, a conglomerate of leaders concerned with issues affecting first, the Baltimore African-American community, as well as residents statewide.

Businesses owners, community organizations, policy makers, and area university faculty and staff have come together to form the Better Maryland Committee, a conglomerate of leaders concerned with issues affecting first, the Baltimore African-American community, as well as residents statewide.

The proposed juvenile jail in downtown Baltimore is one the key topics of conversation on the official agenda for the year. With the help of lawmakers, in 2013 they will begin pushing for the start of the legal process that will set aside money for the treatment centers they want to see instead. In May 2011 NCCD, in a report commissioned by Gov. Martin O’Malley, proposed a number of alternatives to a new jail for youth- especially when crime among juveniles in Baltimore has continuously declined. “Bed Space Forecast for Baltimore Youth Detention Facility“ proposed that all youth charged as adults have bail release hearings within two days, and their actual hearing within thirty days, thus cutting down on overcrowding and the amount of space needed at any one point in time.