Kinkead, Hanbidge named to NCSL Youth Justice Fellows Program
Rep. Emily Kinkead April 2, 2025 | 12:28 PM
HARRISBURG, April 2 – State Reps. Emily Kinkead and Liz Hanbidge announced today they have been selected for the National Conference of State Legislatures 2025 cohort of the Youth Justice Fellows Program, joining a national network of state lawmakers dedicated to advancing youth justice policy and legislation.
“As I am currently working on bills to eliminate fines and limit the use of solitary confinement for youth in Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system; I am eager to participate in this prestigious fellowship,” said Kinkead, D-Allegheny. “Connecting with legislators and leading experts from around the country who are working to create a better justice system for juveniles in their own communities is a unique opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of what strategies have worked in other states and implement them here.”
"I'm honored to join the NCSL Youth Justice Fellowship Program, a distinguished platform for addressing the challenges in our juvenile justice system," Hanbidge, D-Montgomery, said. "Last session, I worked on measures to strengthen abuse reporting, limit solitary confinement, protect youth education rights and end the practice of charging children as adults – and this fellowship program will further equip me to advance these reforms. With my background as a child advocate, I am prepared to leverage this opportunity for meaningful change here in our commonwealth.”
Kinkead and Hanbidge, both lawyers now serving in the PA House, are among 18 legislators from across the country chosen to participate in this program. Fellows are selected based on their role as an emerging leader in this field as well as their expertise on topic areas related to youth justice policy. The 2025 cohort will be joining an established community of policy experts that fosters collaboration, engagement and learning.
Supported through a partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, this prestigious program provides state legislators and legislative staff with an opportunity to engage in peer learning on youth justice policy and research.
Throughout the year-long program, participants will attend in-person meetings with policy experts and fellow legislators and will have the opportunity to develop individual action plans related to youth justice policy and receive technical assistance from NCSL staff.
To find more information on the NCSL Youth Justice Fellows Program, visit: https://www.ncsl.org/civil-and-criminal-justice/youth-justice-fellows-program.