iSPARC Director, Maryann Davis, has been appointed to state Task Force!

Governor Charlie Baker has appointed Maryann Davis, iSPARC Director, to the Task Force to Examine and Study the Treatment and Impact of Individuals Ages 18 to 24 in the Court System and Correctional System, (pursuant to section 221(a) of Chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018). This task force consists of 20 members and its goals are to:

• Evaluate the advisability, feasibility and impact of changing the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to defendants younger than 21 years of age.
• Make recommendations for the establishment, implementation and provision to young adults, aged 18 to 24, who have been committed to the department of correction or a county correctional facility with increased and targeted age-appropriate programming and the establishment of young adult correctional units as authorized in section 48B of chapter 127 of the General Laws.
• Submit its findings to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate not later than July 1, 2019.

Maryann Davis, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized expert in services and interventions for young people transitioning to adulthood with serious mental health conditions, which generally occurs between 16 and 30 years of age.  Learn more about her work here.