Bill > H82

This bill establishes a special commission to investigate and study ways to improve gender-responsive programming for girls involved in the juvenile justice system, aiming to make services more effective. The commission will be composed of members from the senate and house of representatives, along with designees from various state departments such as health and human services, elementary and secondary education, probation, youth services, children and families, mental health, and public health, as well as representatives from public counsel services, the juvenile court, and community vendors serving high-risk girls. This commission will review existing programs in Massachusetts and other states, examine best practices, identify factors leading to girls' involvement in the juvenile justice system, analyze data collection methods, evaluate vendor contracts, and report on recidivism rates, service utilization, and educational attainment for these girls. It will also hold regional meetings to gather community input and create a way to include the perspectives of the girls themselves in its findings, ultimately filing reports with recommendations to the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities.