Staff
Melissa Milchman
Executive Director
Melissa is a steadfast youth advocate and juvenile justice reform professional whose passion and professional journey is dedicated to developing and enhancing systems of care that prevent or reduce the impact of system involvement for youth and families. Melissa’s core areas of subject matter expertise include: government administration, grants and strategic initiatives, evidence-based prevention, authentic youth engagement, and collaboration among youth-serving systems and communities. Melissa previously served as the Juvenile Justice Specialist for the District of Columbia and facilitator of the DC State Advisory Group, known locally at the Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG), where she convened cross-sector government and community partners with youth and families to improve justice system responses and enhance prevention efforts for the District. Melissa also advised and mentored the JJAG Youth Leaders in Action committee, a collaborative of young leaders with lived experience that strive to elevate the voices of community and youth in decision making spaces. Melissa earned her Juris Doctorate from the George Washington University Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from the University of Florida. She was also the recipient of the CJJ 2022 Tony Gobar Outstanding National Juvenile Justice Specialist award.
Brock Landwehr
Associate Director
Brock oversees the CJJ’s probation reform initiatives, and supports CJJ’s training and technical assistance efforts funded through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, including CJJ’s Compliance Monitor’s project, and other CJJ activities. Brock served on CJJ’s Executive Board as the Government Relations Committee Chair from 2018 to 2023, and became the Associate Director in 2023. Prior to CJJ, Brock served as the Juvenile Justice Specialist and the R-ED/DMC Coordinator for Kansas. During this time, he served as a peer mentor for a number of states around the country, and presented for both OJJDP and CJJ. Brock graduated from Kansas State University, and has over 25 years of experience helping young people and families.
Morré Taylor
Policy and Field Relations Associate
Morré Taylor is a D.C. native who is passionate about reducing racial and gender disparities in the youth legal system and designing social policies through an intersectional lens. Prior to joining the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, she served as the Center for Children’s Law and Policy’s Programs Manager, working to end the use of solitary confinement for young people and reforming probation. Morré has a B.A in Sociology from Georgetown University and a Master’s of Public Policy with a concentration in Social Policy from the George Washington University. Her interest in juvenile justice reform began in graduate school when she was conducting research on minority youths’ vulnerability to the school-to-prison pipeline.
Shalee Forney
Communications and Administrative Associate
Shalee is a native of North Carolina and is a dedicated advocate for youth and families within the juvenile justice system. Before joining the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ), Shalee served as a Juvenile Court Counselor, where she provided crucial support and guidance to young individuals navigating legal challenges. Her work is deeply rooted in exploring the intersectionality of race and family engagement in the juvenile justice system, striving to create equitable and supportive environments for all families. Shalee received her BA in Sociology and Criminology; and MA in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2010 and 2017. Her academic endeavors were centered around enhancing understanding and practices around family dynamics and systemic inequalities in juvenile justice, contributing to her mission of fostering a fairer and more inclusive system.