Governor Newsom assigned Harris, a community advocate and former foster youth, to his first statewide role.
SAN DIEGO — Governor Gavin Newsom appointed San Diego civil rights leader Shane Harris to the State Advisory Group on Youth Justice on Oct. 22.
Harris advocates for foster youth and founded the Office of the San Diego Public Advocate, a non-government group focused on various community issues.
This appointment would be his first state-level advisory role and is “deeply personal” to Harris.
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Harris spent 13 years of his childhood in California’s foster care system and after aging out of foster care, his work has centered around protecting vulnerable children.
“There were difficult moments in those years when I wondered what my future would look like and whether anyone in government truly understood what children like me were experiencing,” Harris said in a press release.
His personal and professional experience led him to this role on the Youth Justice Advisory Group, whose mission is to promote effective juvenile justice policies and serve California’s youth.
He will join 16 other governor-appointed members and two new appointees in advising the governor, legislature and public on juvenile justice policies.
In the last few years, Harris has supported state bills aimed at protecting foster youth benefits, strengthening child sex trafficking laws and increasing accountability for adults who solicit minors.
In a press release following the appointment, Harris outlined his main areas of focus in this new role.
They include strengthening early intervention for vulnerable children, confronting child sex exploitation and demanding greater transparency and accountability from the systems involving youth.
“I also believe that accountability and rehabilitation must work together,” Harris said.
“We can protect public safety, support victims, hold individuals responsible for their actions and still recognize that young people deserve opportunities for restoration and redemption.”