SSJC will deliver its FY2025 Operating Budget Testimony to the County Council on April 10. Our testimony addresses three primary areas. First, we argue for an expanded and more cohesive mental and behavioral health response system that provides a health-centered, civilian-led response, which involves police only and as necessary by expanding the number of mobile crisis teams, providing more competitive compensation to Crisis Center and MCOT staff, expanding the types of people who can serve on MCOTs, and undertaking a public education campaign to increase awareness of the county’s crisis response system.
Second, we express our opposition to certain increases in the MCPD budget, including the $8 million increase for the police chief’s budget, funding for the drone first responder program, funding for police in schools, and funding MCPD’s community outreach bureau, which is largely a recruiting program for officer cadets. Finally, we advocate for the restoration of full funding to the MCPS budget for restorative justice programs across all schools.*** You can read SSJC’s full budget testimony here.
***Our partners at Young People for Progress have put together a powerful and easy to use script so that you can call your councilmembers to urge them to fully fund restorative justice. Please take a few minutes to make some calls now.
Silver Spring Justice Coalition 