HARRISBURG – Senator Scott Martin (R-13) will serve on a newly created panel that will be responsible for improving Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system.
The Juvenile Justice Task Force will be responsible for completing a thorough review of the current system to find ways to better protect public safety, contain costs to taxpayers and improve outcomes for victims, youth, families and communities. The bipartisan panel will gather data and expert testimony throughout the year in order to develop recommendations for statutory, budgetary and administrative changes to be considered by the General Assembly during the next legislative session.
Martin was appointed to the task force in large part due to his lengthy experience working in the juvenile justice system, including serving as Director of the Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center, a juvenile detention and shelter care facility. In addition, he was the Vice Chair of the Juvenile Detention Center Association of PA and served on the PA Commission on Crime & Delinquency Detention Steering Committee. Martin also Chaired the County Commissioners Association of PA’s Criminal Justice System Best Practices Committee for eight years and was the Founder of the Lancaster County Crime Prevention Task Force and the Campaign Against the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Children (CASE).
“Despite improvements to the system in the past, Pennsylvania still owes it to victims, the juvenile offenders we are trying to rehabilitate and taxpayers to always evaluate what is working and what is not,” Martin said.
“It can be extremely difficult to help troubled young people find a better path in life, but I know from first-hand experience that it certainly is possible,” Martin said. “I look forward to working with the other members of this new task force to create a stronger system that reduces recidivism, makes victims whole, protects communities and lessens the burden on taxpayers.”
CONTACT: Terry Trego (717) 787-6535