Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday announced his choices for a 21-member board aimed at improving the juvenile justice system in Arkansas.
The Youth Justice Reform Board consists of an Arkansas Supreme Court justice, the state commissioner of education, juvenile court judges, advocacy group representatives, clergy and others.
Amy Webb, spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Human Services, said in an email the board will focus on the "child as a whole," meaning board members will talk about mental health, education, employment opportunities and more.
"That's why you'll see so many different fields represented on the board," she said.
Webb said the board will meet quarterly and its recommendations are expected to result in new legislation during the 2017 regular session.
The board was authorized by Act 1010 of 2015, which aimed to reduce the number of youths committed to state lockups.
"When Governor Hutchinson took office, he made it clear that juvenile justice reform was on his priority list," Webb said. "Act 1010 was passed and created this body to lead those reform efforts."
That legislation was filed by Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Jerry Walsh, executive director of South Arkansas Youth Services, a nonprofit organization in Magnolia that serves 600 youths per year, was named to the board by Hutchinson. He said locking up young offenders can do more harm than good.
He said he would push for more community-based rehabilitation as a member of the board.
"I don't know what judges can do with behavior problem kids. It's just better to get them services and keep working with them," he said. "Once they're out of their community, their chances decrease of being rehabilitated."
Board members are:
• Joyce Warren, Little Rock, Pulaski County juvenile court judge.
• Troy Braswell, Conway, Faulkner County juvenile court judge.
• Kate Shufeldt, Little Rock, Administrative Office of the Court, court improvement program director.
• Robert Rudolph, Little Rock, Church of God in Christ, auxiliary bishop.
• Scott Tanner, Little Rock, juvenile court ombudsman.
• Paul Kelly, Little Rock, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, senior policy analyst.
• Kristin Martin, Little Rock, prosecuting attorney's office.
• Casey Beard, Little Rock, public defender's office.
• Jerry Walsh, Magnolia, Arkansas Coalition for Juvenile Justice, state advisory group chair.
• Rhonda Wood, Conway, Arkansas Supreme Court justice.
• Daryl Bassett, Sherwood, Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, director.
• Paula Stone, Sherwood, DHS Division of Behavioral Health Services, assistant clinical director.
• Corey Thomas, Benton, youth representative.
• John Morgan, Hot Springs, Ouachita Children's Center, case management director.
• Madelyn Keith, Clarkedale, East Arkansas Youth Services, administrator.
• Anne Wells, Benton, DHS Division of Children and Family Services, mental health manager.
• Johnny Key, Little Rock, Arkansas Department of Education, commissioner.
• Teresa Kramer, Conway, a representative of a family involved in DYS.
• Tom Tatum, Danville, Yell County prosecutor.
• Tom Masseau, Little Rock, Disability Rights Arkansas, executive director.
• Laurence Miller, Little Rock, DHS Division of Medical Services, senior psychiatrist.
Metro on 08/04/2015