JDAI Counties

County Committee Information

JDAI Massachusetts County Participation Massachusetts began as an Annie E. Casey Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative site in 2006 with two counties, Worcester and Suffolk (Boston). These sites were chosen for their high number of lower-level juveniles in detention. Since inception, the decision was made to take the JDAI model state-wide.

In 2009, Middlesex and Essex counties joined the initiative. In 2013 and 2014 respectively, Bristol and Hampden Counties joined the initiative. Now JDAI has active local steering committees in six of Massachusetts’ eleven judicial districts. Those six counties contain all the secure detention centers operated by DYS in the state, and encompass nearly all the major population centers. JDAI local collaborative's function in six of our eleven judicial districts: Bristol, Essex, Hampden, Middlesex, Suffolk and Worcester. 

County Committees

Bristol

County Co-Chairs

  • Candice Gabrey, Juvenile Justice Program Manager, Parent/Professional Advocacy League
  • (open position)

Contact Sir Parrish for more information sir.parrish@mass.gov

Essex

County Co-Chairs

  • Honorable Kerry Ahern, First Justice, Essex Juvenile Court
  • Kathleen P. Sylvia, Assistant Chief Probation Officer, Essex Juvenile Court

Contact Deb Bowden for more information deborah.m.bowden@mass.gov

Hampden

County Co-Chairs 

  • Honorable Arose Nielsen, Associate Justice, Hampden Juvenile Court
  • Corrine Ryan, Managing Attorney, Community Legal Aid, Springfield

Contact Sir Parrish for more information sir.parrish@mass.gov

 Middlesex

County Co-Chairs

  • Honorable Brian Frane, Associate Justice, Middlesex Juvenile Court
  • Sandra Hillario, Assistant Chief Probation Officer, Middlesex Juvenile Court

Contact Deb Bowden for more information deborah.m.bowden@mass.gov

Suffolk

County Co-Chairs

  • Ryan Brennan, OSY Program Manager, Action for Boston Community Development
  • Lavell Fulks. Associate Director, Violence Intervention and Prevention,  Boston Public Health Commission 
  • Kathryn Ratey, Director of Juvenile Diversion, Juvenile Unit, Office of Suffolk County District Attorney

Contact Deb Bowden for more information deborah.m.bowden@mass.gov

Worcester

County Co-Chairs

  • Keane Tugman, Regional Placement Coordinator Central Region, DCF
  • Jamie Bennett, Attorney in Charge, Youth Advocacy Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, Worcester

Contact Sir Parrish for more information sir.parrish@mass.gov

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