2021 Legislative Priorities Include 5 Police Reform Demands, Removing Governor from Parole Process, Passing the Trust Act
ANNAPOLIS, MD – The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland (ACLU) is proud to announce the appointment of Caylin A. Young, Esq, as public policy director. Young will lead the organization’s public policy team to advocate for our strategic priorities in the General Assembly, including five police accountability demands, parole reform, the Trust Act, and education equity. Young, who has experience as an advocate within both activist and government organizations, is a strong leader who will collaborate with stakeholders across the state to realize real change to advance racial equity in Maryland.
Said Dana Vickers Shelley, executive director of the ACLU of Maryland: “I am delighted to welcome Caylin Young back to the ACLU. It is particularly great that he has decided to bring his skills, talent, and experience to the ACLU leadership team at this time, as we embark on implementing our four-year strategic plan to empower Marylanders to exercise their rights so that the law values and uplifts their humanity. With Caylin’s leadership, the ACLU’s public policy program is poised to support people who are personally impacted bring about real change in government accountability, individual autonomy, education equity, immigrants’ rights, the legal justice system, and voting rights.”
Caylin Young, who previously served as public policy counsel at ACLU, was most recently legislative director for City Council President Brandon Scott and deputy director of government relations for Mayor Scott. Young also served as the 2015-2016 national chair for the National Black Law Students Association. He interned for Maryland Court of Appeals, served as a legal fellow under U.S. Senator Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), and was legislative assistant for former Senate President Pro-Tempore Nathaniel J. McFadden (D-45) and Delegate Cheryl D. Glenn (D-45). He received a B.S. in Mathematics from Hampton University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to return to the ACLU in this new capacity,” said Caylin Young. “I look forward to driving law and policy positions that will improve the lives of Marylanders and protect their freedoms.”
Previously as ACLU public policy counsel, Young played a key role in solitary confinement reform and passage of a reporting bill for race-based traffic stops. Partnering with Senator Will Smith, as one of the primary drafters and advocates, Young helped to pass a bill that puts strict limits on the use of solitary confinement for children. Young also played a key role winning passage, including negotiation with Maryland State Troopers, for a bill that requires expanded reporting requirements for on the race and ethnicity of drivers pulled over by police. That law now also requires reporting on whether a search was conducted and whether it was consensual. Importantly, the data now is now disaggregated by jurisdiction, so that the public can see information filtered by county, municipality, or law enforcement agency.
See ACLU of Maryland’s 2021 public policy priorities here.
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