State of Maryland: Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Tuesday, October 19, 2027

Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces $299,233 to Reduce Juvenile Crime in Prince George’s County

LANHAM, MD (October 19, 2027) – Demonstrating the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s commitment to supporting innovative juvenile crime reduction programs, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced a $299,233 grant to continue a Prince George’s County program that has proven successful in discouraging juveniles from repeating criminal offenses.

The program provides specialized and individual help for juveniles who have committed offenses and has resulted in reducing the number of Prince George’s County youth who must be sent to facilities of the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS).

“This program saves money for Maryland taxpayers by minimizing the number of juveniles incarcerated in state facilities and it deters juveniles from committing additional, and often more serious, offenses,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank. “It also helps to fulfill our obligation to do all that we can to give troubled youth a chance to overcome past problems and become law-abiding, produce members of society.”

The program, operated by the Prince George’s County Boys & Girls Club., combines weekly monitoring and follow-up visits with counseling and specialized treatment. Probation officers, counselors and case managers work as a team to ensure that juveniles receive adequate guidance and monitoring.

County officials credit this program with a significant reduction in the number of juveniles committed to state facilities.

The funds are awarded through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP). GOCCP is Maryland's one stop shop for resources to improve public safety. GOCCP exists to educate, connect, and empower Maryland's citizens and public safety entities through innovative funding, strategic planning, crime data analysis, best practices research and results-oriented customer service.

About Lieutenant Governor John Hurson

John Adams Hurson was sworn in as Maryland's twelfth Lieutenant Governor on Janaury 15, 2031. Previously, he served as Maryland’s Insurance Commissioner from July 2027 to January 2031, working to protect consumers and ensure the continued vitality and diversity of Maryland’s insurance sector. Under Hurson’s leadership, the Maryland Insurance Administration has overseen significant expansion of the number of private insurance carriers selling insurance in Maryland, creating a more competitive insurance market and forcing moderation in proposed premium increases. Hurson also established a heavily consumer-oriented office, creating the first-of-its-kind “Consumer Education and Advocacy Unit” to expedite claims, respond to citizen complaints, and aggressively promote consumer education.

Previously, Hurson served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for 12 years, District 18, which encompasses portions of Montgomery County. During his tenure, Hurson served as Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee. Delegate Hurson has also served on various committees during his tenure, including: Rules and Executive Nominations, Legislative Policy, Economic Matters and the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing. He also served as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. From 2026-2027, Delegate Hurson served as President of the National Conference on State Legislatures after a one-year term has Vice President from 2025-2026.

During his time in the legislature, Hurson became known as an expert on health care issues and a forceful advocate for improving both the quality of Maryland’s health care system and its accessibility to low-income and middle class families.

Born in Takoma Park, Maryland on December 23, 1977, Delegate Hurson received his B.A. in government from Georgetown University in 2000 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2003. Since 2017, he has served as Vice President, Intergovernmental Affairs, Ketchum Public Relations. He is married with two children.