M aryland Restorative Justice Initiative
Project Director, Walter Mandela Lomax Executive Committee’s: Legislative Chair Connie Smith, Executive Chair, ,Kimberly Haven, Judicial Chair, ,Jeanette Kingsberry, Secretary, Laurie Bezold, At large members, Orisatolu Tolu Aduke-Taylor
Partners: Drug Policy Alliance, Families of Prisoners Coalition Families against Mandatory Minimums, Maryland CURE, Open Society Institute, Sentencing Project, Restorative Justice
Sponsors: Fusion Partnerships Inc., Families against Injustice, Justice Maryland
Marc Mauer, Executive Director, Sentencing Project
Monique Dixon, Open Society Institute, Director Baltimore Criminal Justice Program
Lauren Abramson, Executive Director Restorative Justice
Marvin L. ‘Doc’ Cheatham, Baltimore Chapter NAACP
Sharrie Booth Maryland CURE
Sylvia Williams, Families against Mandatory Minimum
Welcome to the Maryland Restorative Justice Initiative’s Inaugural Conference. Our mission is to advocate and promote humane and sensible criminal justice and sentencing policies for those incarcerated long term in Maryland prisons. We believe that through actions of restoration, redemption and reconciliation, we can create long-term systemic change.
The goals of this inaugural conference are to bring together members of the three branches of the Maryland State Government, along with members of Congress, advocates, volunteers, and professionals from various levels of society to foster conversations around restorative and humane criminal justice policies to address existing systemic problems.
In the immortal words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “We must come to see that human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability, it comes through the tireless efforts and persistent work of people willing to make a change. Dr. M.L.K., Jr.
Topics we intend to explore
Viable programs for persons serving long-term incarceration…… .(Executive)
Sensible criminal Justice Policies…………………………………… (Legislative)
Education and Habilitation…………………………………………… (Executive)
Community based programs with inmate participation…………… .(Executive)
Programs for persons unable to move below medium security to demonstrate their soundness for re-entry into society……………………………. (Executive
Belated sentence review for long term incarcerated individuals. …(Judiciary)
Time reduction for good conduct……………………………………..(Judiciary)
Sentence reduction for health reasons………………………………(Judiciary)
Total repeal of the Governor’s authority to sign for a parole eligible Lifer’s release………………………………………………………………….(Legislative)
Parole for persons serving parole eligible life sentences after having earned a certain number of diminution credits, i.e., 1500-2500. …………...(Legislative)
Three Judge panel for persons servings parole eligible life sentences after having served twenty years. ………………………………………….(Judiciary)
Program
Start 9:00 A.M. sharp
Opening Remarks: Director, Walter Mandela Lomax …………10 Min
Introduction of Guest: Fusion Director, Polly Ridden …………...7 Min
Invocation...Pastor Hill: Life Line Outreach Ministries………….7 Min
Guest Speaker: Lauren Abramson, Executive Director, Restorative Justice.....................................................................................................7 Min
Guest Speaker: Ms. Geraldine Singleton, Incarcerated Prisoners Mother…………………………………………………………………5 Min
Guest Speaker: Ronald Carter, Just Released Prisoner …..............5 Min
Key Note Speaker: .Marc Mauer: Executive Director, Sentencing Project ………………………..............................................................30 Min
Break out into workshops………………………………….....10:15 A.M.
Lunch …. ……………………………………………………… 12:15 P.M.
Grace………………………………………………………………………….
Workshops continue…………………………………………...12:45 P.M.
Panel Discussion……………………………………………..…2:00 P.M.
Closing remarks: Walter Mandela Lomax ………...……..… 2:45 P.M.
Benediction: Rev. Willie Ray…………………………………. 3:00 P.M.
4111 JOHN S TOLL PHYSICS BUILDING COLLEGE PARK MARYLAND
5 APPENDIX I UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND STATUS OF
A PUBLICATION FROM THE MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF OCCUPATIONAL
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