Help us identify our major initiatives!

MAJR General Meeting: October 2020   View this email in your browser   What? MAJR General Meeting When? October 16, 7pm Where? Zoom  Why?    Help select our MAJR focus for 2021 Register for this Zoom meeting here.   After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.    2021 Legislative Initiatives   Front Door: Police powers and oversight: MAJR strongly supports Maryland General Assembly leaders’ proposals to restore public confidence in police action by retraining police and prioritizing nonviolent services whenever possible. Other initiatives include: Prosecutorial Discretion Marijuana Legalization Citations for Misdemeanors Education Reform Felony Murder Rule   Behind the Walls: Correctional Ombuds Office: The Ombuds concept has been endorsed by Gov. Larry Hogan. Cutting through layers of bureaucratic review now required, Maryland could join several other states with an independent Ombuds to publicly report and recommend improvements as to prisoner’s needs, as well as those of prison volunteers and families.  Other initiatives include: Model Prisons Rewarding Educational Milestones Solitary Confinement Initiative. Removing the Governor from the parole process Maryland Second Look Act   Back Door: Re-entry Programs: Prisoner reentry is the process by which prisoners, once released, return to the community. Endorsed by DPSCS Secretary Rob Green, a state Reentry Council would bring together representatives of state prisons, local jails, nonprofit providers, and families to more promptly connect returning citizens with resources in their home communities to help them succeed. Other initiatives include: Women’s Pre-Release Center Expungement   Your vote counts during our General Meeting.     We urge you to vote in the upcoming election on November 3. Why vote? Simply put, it is our responsibility to vote because our freedom to pursue liberty depends on having a functional, representative democracy. The system only works if we participate in it. Vote, and then go out and keep working toward the world you want to live in. To help here are a few links: Voting Rights for Pretrial Detainees and Returning Citizens, MdDems Voter guide: How to vote in Maryland’s November election, Baltimore Sun How to register to vote in Maryland, ABC News How to vote in Maryland, Washington Post Here’s What You Need To Know About Voting In Maryland, WAMU Maryland Election Information, Election Protection 5 Reasons Why You Should Vote!, Altamed Why Vote? Trade Schools Everything You Need to Vote, Vote.org 2020 General Election, Maryland.gov       MAJR is a nonpartisan association of over fifty community organizations and churches with members in every part of the state, formed to support justice reinvestment. Individual supporters include judges, attorneys, corrections professionals, as well as returning citizens, victims, and service providers.   Visit: http://www.ma4jr.org Facebook: https://facebook.com/ma4jr.org/ Twitter: @ma4jreform       Copyright © 2020 Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you elected to stay informed about MAJR activities Our mailing address is: Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform 351 Dubois Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

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Tony Langbehn

Convenor, Maryland United for Peace and Justice

MUPJ.org
Tonylang4peace@gmail.com