ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBER
DC Lawyers for Youth
1220 L Street NW Suite 605
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-643-6870
Web: www.dcly.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
Twitter: @DCLawyers4Youth
Eduardo Ferrer
Executive Director
Email: eferrer@dcly.org; ferrere@georgetown.edu
Organization Profile
DC Lawyers for Youth (DCLY) is an organization founded by alumni of the Georgetown Juvenile Justice Clinic in 2007. The purpose of DCLY is to improve the Washington, D.C. juvenile justice system through advocacy, direct service, and the dissemination of information. By bridging the worlds of ideas and action, DCLY empowers and engages the District’s legal community and youth to effect positive change. We believe that improving juvenile justice in the District requires the input and participation of our entire community including youth, parents, teachers, judges, police, and various other constituencies. DCLY seeks to bring these stakeholders together in order to develop the most effective policies and projects to promote our youth’s success.
Our Philosophy
We believe that true positive change cannot occur if we limit our view of the juvenile justice system to the time when a child gets arrested to the time he gets released from the custody of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) or completes his or her probation. As a result, we take a holistic approach to improving the juvenile justice system organizing our efforts by the three phases of the system: prevention, representation, and rehabilitation.
1. Prevention
Investing early in our youth will make it less likely that they will get arrested. This is the best outcome for our youth and all the system’s stakeholders. Lowering arrest rates will reduce the volume that the courts and social services have to process, freeing up resources and enabling our courts and social service programs to focus on those youth most in need.
2. Representation
Improving the quality of representation for youth begins with a recognition that the juvenile defender is both attorney and social worker and ensuring that all juvenile defenders receive the support necessary to effectively play both roles. Focusing on this dual role of effective juvenile defenders will not only protect the constitutional rights of our youth recognized in In re Gault, but also ensure that those youth most in need will receive a plan for services that is tailored to the unique needs of the individual.
3. Rehabilitation
Improving the services provided to our youth who are subject to court or DYRS supervision will ensure that the rehabilitative goal of the juvenile justice system is realized. Investing in effective re-entry programs will help rehabilitated youth from falling back into the grasp of the court system.
YOUTH JUSTICE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE ALUMNI MEMBERS
LaShunda Hill
Public Safety Performance Project
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Phone: 202-540-6932
Areas of Expertise: sentencing reform; juvenile life without parole; reinvestment.
Bio: LaShunda Hill seeks to create juvenile and child welfare systems that are restorative and healing instead of retributive and traumatizing.
Currently at the Pew Charitable Trusts, she works with states seeking to improve their juvenile justice systems. Previously at the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth (CFSY), she worked to abolish juvenile life without parole. Before CFSY, she was a family intervention specialist with Youth Villages, providing in-home counseling for youth and their families.
LaShunda is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, holds an EdM from Harvard University and is completing a MSW from Columbia University.
Found 65 matches.
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YJLI Fellow Jennifer Ubiera Pursues Justice and Possibility for Young People
Profile and interview of YJLI Fellow Jennifer Ubiera, Organizing and Advocacy Fellow, Georgetown Juvenile Justice Initiative
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Principles of Effective Juvenile Justice Policy
Tags: Federal | Colorado | District of Columbia | General System Reform | Juvenile Defense and Court Process | Youth in the Adult System | Advocacy | Reports | Member Publications | Partner Publications
The NCSL Juvenile Justice Principles Work Group project was developed under an NCSL partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts public safety performance project. The work group project responds to the challenge lawmakers face of constructing juvenile justice systems that are both fiscally responsible and improve outcomes on many important fronts: protecting and enhancing public safety, holding youth accountable, helping youth develop the skills they need to succeed, preserving and strengthening families, and promoting fairness. The issues addressed in these Principles reflect the important role of state legislatures in enacting policies that avoid unnecessary involvement of youth in the justice system and support evidence-based interventions that reduce recidivism and protect public safety. While working group members and other lawmakers recognize that confinement may be necessary for youth who commit the most serious crimes and pose the greatest threat to public safety, a major interest of the group was sustaining and reinforcing the current trends of falling juvenile crime and out-of-home placement rates.
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NJJN Welcomes Summer 2018 Interns
Celine Catronuovo and Noah Gillen will help further NJJN's mission.
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D.C. Advocate Wins National Award for Her Advocacy for Youth in Trouble with the Law
LaShunda Hill is being recognized next month for her tenacious work on behalf of young people in trouble with the law.
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D.C. OAG Restorative Justice Program Slides
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RE: Defense Department 1033 Program and the militarization of police
Tags: Federal | District of Columbia | Public Opinion and Messaging | Administrative/Regulatory Policies | Legislation
Message to U.S. House of Representatives to suspend the 1033 program in a wake of the Trump administration’s revocation of President Obama’s 2015 Executive Order 13688 and its ensuing recommendations, which placed critical limits on federal programs that provide military equipment to law enforcement agencies, until Congress and the public understand—through Congressional hearings—what steps the federal government is taking to provide oversight and accountability of these programs amidst the racial tension in this country.
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RE: Defense Department 1033 Program and the militarization of police
Tags: Federal | District of Columbia | Public Opinion and Messaging | Administrative/Regulatory Policies | Legislation
Message to U.S. Senate to suspend the 1033 program in a wake of the Trump administration’s revocation of President Obama’s 2015 Executive Order 13688 and its ensuing recommendations, which placed critical limits on federal programs that provide military equipment to law enforcement agencies, until Congress and the public understand—through Congressional hearings—what steps the federal government is taking to provide oversight and accountability of these programs amidst the racial tension in this country.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | December 2016
Position announcements in the field of youth justice: December 2016.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | September 2016
Position announcements in the field of youth justice: September 2016.
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Prioitizing a Public Health Over a Punitive Approach: Responding to a Spike in Violent Crime in the District of Columbia, JPI
Tags: District of Columbia | Prevention | Partner Publications | Fact Sheets and Briefs
Examines the response of District of Columbia officials to a rise in crime -- while endorsing a public health approach, they have not fully funded violence prevention efforts. (2016)
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | July 2016
Position announcements in the field of youth justice: July 2016.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | May 2016
Position announcements in the field of youth justice: May 2016.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | April 2016
Job opportunities in the field of youth justice reform for April 2016.
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Words Unlocked
Words Unlocked is a poetry contest for incarcerated youth run by the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings. In honor of National Poetry Month, here is one of the exceptional poems submitted through last year's contest.
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Meet the Fellows: Marion Andrew Humphrey
Recently, we spoke with Marion Andrew Humphrey, Organizational Specialist at the National Education Association in Little Rock, Arkansas. Marion is a fellow in NJJN's Youth Justice Leadership Institute, a year-long program that aims to create a more effective foundation for the juvenile justice reform movement by developing a strong base of well-trained and well-prepared advocates and organizers who reflect the communities most affected by juvenile justice system practices and policies.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | March 2016
Career opportunities in the field of youth justice reform - March 2016.
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Youth Justice Reform Roundup | March 2016
News, events, and resources in the field of juvenile justice reform for March 2016.
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E-Newsletter: D.C. Bill Would Use Health Framework for Prevention of Violence | February 24,2016
News and resources in the field of youth justice reform, February 24, 2016.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | February 2016
Career opportunities in the field of youth justice reform - February 2016.
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D.C. Bill Would Adopt Public Health Framework for Prevention of Violent Crime
On February 2, 2016, the D.C. City Council cleared the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results (NEAR) Act (B. 21-0360), in the first of two council votes. Introduced by Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, the NEAR Act received enthusiastic support from local youth advocacy groups, including D.C. Lawyers for Youth (DCLY), an NJJN member. If passed, the NEAR Act would take significant steps toward reframing the District’s approach to violence prevention as one based in public health, not crime and punishment.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | January 2016
Career opportunities in the field of youth justice reform: January 2016.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | November 2015
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | October, 2015
Career opportunities in the field of youth justice reform, October 2015.
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Youth Justice Reform Roundup | October 2015
News, events, and resources in the field of youth justice reform, October 2015.
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Youth Arrest and Court Involvement Trends in the District of Columbia 1998-2014
Tags: District of Columbia | General System Reform | Evidence-Based Practices | Reports | Research | Member Publications
This report summarizes recent data on youth arrests and court involvement in the District of Columbia. It reports key findings and makes policy recommendations, including employing a public-health approach to youth crime in the District, and encouraging more thorough data collection.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | September 2015
Career opportunities in the field of youth justice reform, September 2015.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | July, 2015
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E-Newsletter: Members Prompt Reform in TX and WV
Download NJJN's April, 2015 e-newsletter, featuring stories about member work in West Virginia on truancy reform and in Texas on truancy and court processes, a profile of Youth Justice Leadership Institute fellow Christy Sampson-Kelly, our news and research roundup, and position openings in youth justice reform.
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Meet the Fellows: Christy Sampson-Kelly
NJJN's interview with Youth Justice Leadership Institute fellow Christy Sampson-Kelly.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | March 2015
Selected job announcements in the field of youth justice and juvenile justice.
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E-newsletter: Meet Our New Member, and Maheen Kaleem
Download NJJN's February 11, 2015 e-newsletter.
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Meet the Fellows: Maheen Kaleem
NJJN interviews Maheen Kaleem, a fellow in the Youth Justice Leadership Institute who works to train juvenile defenders in how to communicate with and adequately defend girls in the system.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | February 2015
Job listings in the field of youth justice reform for February, 2015.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | October 30, 2014
Employment opportunities in the field of juvenile justice reform posted in late October, 2014.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | September 2014
Job and internship postings in the field of youth justice reform, open as of September, 2014.
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E-Newsletter: Colorado Passes Bill to Ensure Early Access to Counsel | June 12, 2014
E-newsletter from June 12, 2014. Includes: - Colorado Passes Bill to Ensure Early Access to Counsel - D.C. Member Teams with National Partner to Keep District Youth Out of Adult System - Michigan Report Shows High Cost of Kids in Adult Justice System - Arkansas Member's Report Prompts Reform to Youth Detention Data Collection
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D.C. Member Teams with National Partner to Keep District Youth Out of the Adult System
D.C. Lawyers for Youth, an NJJN member, teams with the Campaign for Youth Justice, an NJJN partner, to draft and support a city council bill that would reform adultification policy in the nation's capital.
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Youth Offender Accountability and Rehabilitation Act of 2014 (Washington, D.C.)
Tags: District of Columbia | Youth in the Adult System | Legislation
The Youth Offender Accountability and Rehabilitation Act of 2014, introduced by Councilmembers Jim Graham and Tommy Wells, to improve adultification policies in the district.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | June, 2014
Job listings in the field of youth justice reform for May, 2014.
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Capital City Correction: Reforming DC's Use of Adult Incarceration Against Youth
Tags: District of Columbia | Youth in the Adult System | Member Publications | Partner Publications
This publication, a collaboration between DC Lawyers for Youth and the Campaign for Youth Justice, details Washington D.C.'s use of adult incarceration on young people and outlines arguments against the practice.
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DC, Reforming Youth Diversion in the District of Columbia, 2014
Tags: District of Columbia | Deinstitutionalization | Detention | Positive Youth Development and Strengths-Based Programming | Reports
This report focuses on how DC can prevent unnecessary youth involvement in the juvenile justice system and explains what stakeholders would be involved in this process.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | April 30, 2014
Youth justice job announcements for the second half of April.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | February 2014
Job listings in the field of youth justice reform.
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DC, Fiscal Year 2014 Support Act of 2013, B20-0199, 2013
Tags: District of Columbia | Community-Based Alternatives and Supervision | Crime Data and Statistics | Fiscal Issues and Funding | Legislation
Outlines the fiscal year 2014 DC budget including a section on a working group dedicated to alternatives to juvenile arrests and secured detention.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | December 2013
Jobs in youth justice reform for the month of December, 2013.
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E-Newsletter: NJJN Member Leads Push to Raise Age in WI | November 1, 2013
Download NJJN's Nov. 1 e-newsletter!
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Juvenile Justice Reform Roundup | October 24, 2013
Juvenile Justice Reform Roundup for the week of October 24, 2013.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements | October, 2013
Youth justice job announcements for the month of October, 2013.
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Youth Justice Job Announcements - September 2013
Youth justice job announcements for September, 2013.
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D.C. Working Group Aims to Reduce Arrests and Detention, B20-0199/A20-0157
Tags: District of Columbia | Community-Based Alternatives and Supervision | Detention | Administrative/Regulatory Policies
The Washington, D.C. City Council passed a law to establish the “Alternatives to Juvenile Arrest and Secured Detention Working Group.” The city-wide working group is charged with studying all youth arrests starting with 2011, including data on the number and type of school-based arrests. The legislation mandates that the working group include representatives from community-based non-profit organizations, as well as educational institutions that represent court-involved youth or conduct research on local juvenile justice issues. The group is required to submit a report to the Mayor that “develops and proposes a differential response policy, program, and budget for juvenile arrests with the goal of diverting more youth from arrest, prosecution, overnight detention, or pre-trial detention.” After the formation of the working group was delayed, a privately convened group of advocates addressed the issues raised in the legislation and submitted a report to the City Council that calls for a comprehensive diversion pilot program in the city and a centralized mayoral strategy to reduce formal youth system involvement. B20-0199/A20-0157, passed September 6, 2013; effective December 24, 2013.
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Juvenile Justice Reform Roundup | July 11, 2013
News and updates from the field of Juvenile Justice Reform for the week of July 11, 2013.
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District Discipline: Overuse of School Suspension and Expulsion in the District of Columbia
Tags: District of Columbia | School-to-Prison Pipeline | Member Publications
This report, issued by NJJN Member organization D.C. Lawyers for Youth and their Every Student Every Day Coalition, analyzes data concerning suspensions and expulsions in D.C. public schools. The report finds that most suspensions targeted behavior that involved no weapons, no drugs, and no injury to other students, and that suspensions and expulsions were most common among students with special education needs and students living in wards with higher rates of child poverty.
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The Facts About Dangers of Added Police in Schools
Tags: Federal | District of Columbia | School-to-Prison Pipeline | Reports
A fact sheet from The Sentencing Project summarizing research on the effects of increased police presence in schools.
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Betsy Clarke and Liz Ryan Talk Youth Justice Reform with an International Audience
Earlier this month, Elizabeth Clarke, president and founder of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Initiative, and Liz Ryan, president and chief executive officer of the Campaign for Youth Justice, had the opportunity to share our nation's juvenile justice reform efforts with an international audience when they attended the Fifth Biennial Conference of the International Juvenile Justice Observatory in London.
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DC Lawyers for Youth Sheds Light on the Cost of Incarcerating DC's Youth
NJJN member DC Lawyers for Youth is running an infographic campaign to raise awareness for youth justice issues in the District of Columbia, as part of Youth Justice Awareness Month. Learn more!
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Juvenile Justice Reform Roundup
A roundup of new juvenile justice reform tools, including: two new reports on girls in the juvenile justice system and an upcoming conference on at-risk children and youth!
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Justice Policy Institute: Employment Increases Public Safety
A new Justice Policy Institute report shows that increasing employment opportunities for D.C.'s youth also increases public safety.
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Working for a Better Future: How Expanding Employment Opportunities for D.C's Youth Creates Public Safety Benefits for All Residents
Tags: District of Columbia | General System Reform | Partner Publications
The Justice Policy Institute's report finds that youth employment is correlated to fewer referrals to the juvenile court.
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The Education of D.C.: How Washington D.C.'s investments in education can help increase public safety
Tags: District of Columbia | Prevention | School-to-Prison Pipeline | Partner Publications
Justice Policy Institute's Paul Ashton emphasizes the well-known importance of education and points to the correlation between education and public safety. He goes on to explain how more focus on the education of youth in Washington D.C. could mean more annual savings on crime-related expenses.
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Notorious to Notable: The Crucial Role of the Philanthropic Community in Transforming the Juvenile Justice System in Washington, D.C.
Tags: District of Columbia | General System Reform | Reports | Partner Publications
The report documents how multiple foundations worked together and with advocates to transform the D.C. juvenile justice system from one of the worst in the nation to a national model. Contains lessons learned; key strategies employed by funders included engaging other foundations, advocacy, strategic investments in programs, capacity building, and technical assistance.
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Recipe for Reform: How to Improve Your Juvenile Justice System
Three recent publications outline how funders and advocates can work together over time to drive effective, long-lasting improvements in the juvenile justice system that affect thousands of youth in trouble with the law.
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Bringing Youth Home: A National Movement to Increase Public Safety, Rehabilitate Youth and Save Money, National Juvenile Justice Network
Tags: Alabama | California | District of Columbia | Florida | Kansas | New York | Ohio | Texas | Community-Based Alternatives and Supervision | Crime Data and Statistics | Deinstitutionalization | Fiscal Issues and Funding | Reports | NJJN Publications
Report highlighting positive news stemming from and of interest to budget conscious and public safety-minded states. The publication includes examples of states that reduced their juvenile facility populations and are now not only reaping the rewards of newfound funds that can be directed into more effective community-based services for youth, but are also seeing a better return on their investment in terms of juvenile rehabilitation and public safety.
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D.C. Poll on Juvenile Justice, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner
Tags: District of Columbia | Public Opinion and Messaging | Youth in the Adult System | Reports | Research
D.C. poll found that 77 percent of those polled believe youth who are arrested and awaiting trial should be placed in a juvenile facility, not in the D.C. jail, an adult facility. The poll also found that the public overwhelmingly believes that youth should be rehabilitated and not merely incarcerated.
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District of Columbia's Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services Among Top 50 Innovations in Government, Harvard's Kennedy School Ash Institute Press Release
Tags: District of Columbia | Institutional Conditions | Reports
Descriptions of the Top 50 Innovations in Government submissions.
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D.C. Metropolitan Police Department Policy on Handling Interactions with Transgender Individuals, GO-PCA-501.02
Tags: District of Columbia | LGBTQ Youth | Administrative/Regulatory Policies
An order from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department calling for respect and awareness of gender identification and expression.