As the debate over how to deal with juvenile crime continues, some Maryland lawyers have called for legal resolution of constituent concerns with minimal data to support some of their claims. On Friday afternoon, Senate Democrats were frustrated.
“Juvenile delinquency is only a small portion of all crime, if it actually occurs,” Sen. Charles Sydnor, a Baltimore County Democrat, said during a bill hearing Friday. “I just want to make sure in this conversation that we’re not making a distinction between minor major and major minor.”
In the face of a rise in certain juvenile crimes, members of the General Assembly are seeking to find solutions to constituent complaints that crime is on the rise among Maryland’s youth.
Last week, Gov. Wes Moore, House Speaker Adrian A. Jones, and Senate President Bill Ferguson (all Democrats) introduced a multifaceted bill aimed at focusing on child-bearing rehabilitation. . Interact with — Take responsibility.
Senate Bill 744, introduced in the Senate by Mr. Ferguson and Judiciary Chairman Will Smith, would require the Department of Juvenile Services to be used when law enforcement takes a minor into custody or when a child under 13 is involved in the death of another person. It includes a bill that would require a written statement to be submitted. , the timeline for intake decisions at the agency is shortened.
Aligning with some Democrats during the bill’s hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, some members of the Senate Judiciary Committee also supported some aspects of the bill, particularly the length of probation and the Maryland juvenile I found changes in the court’s jurisdictional age to be disturbing.
In 2022, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Juvenile Justice Reform Act, which limits the prosecution of children under 13 to only the most heinous crimes. The 2024 bill would repeal that and allow children ages 10, 11 and 12 to be charged with car theft, animal cruelty, third-degree sex offenses and firearm possession.
Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger, a Democrat, served on the Juvenile Justice Reform Council, which recommended the provisions of the 2022 reform bill.
Mr. Sydnor asked Mr. Shellenberger and the other Prince George’s, Howard and Montgomery County bar committees to provide statewide data on the total number of children between the ages of 10 and 12 who have committed the crimes included in the bill. I asked if it could be provided.
They could only provide information from their respective jurisdictions.
Sydner said he wanted to know if there was data behind this bill because he voted for the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2022 because of data.
“As I watch the news this summer, I hear anecdote after anecdote,” Sydnor said. “I don’t want the media to promote my agenda or my vote for this bill. I would be happy if I could say this was a data-based vote that I made.”
Arrest data for 10- to 12-year-olds was also a top priority for Sen. Jill P. Carter, a Baltimore Democrat.
“I think it’s important that the facts and truth be emphasized and that they don’t get buried under a lot of rhetoric,” she said, adding that this is a violent crime, so even a 10-year-old can already for carjacking, which he noted could be prosecuted.
Carter also asked whether prosecutors are using other tools at their disposal, such as “child in need of supervision” petitions for auto theft, firearms possession, and other crimes, as well as cases brought up during the hearing. We wanted to know what percentage of these tools were used.
Children in Need of Supervision (CINS) are youths who do not attend school regularly, cannot be supervised by a parent or guardian, or who have committed crimes that apply only to children, such as alcohol violations. You can file a complaint with the Juvenile Bureau. .
Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy (D) said there is no way to know how the Juvenile Services handled cases because not all cases are referred to state prosecutors. .
“We are very concerned about the dangers we believe our children face, the dangers we believe our communities face, and the dangers we believe they face. We are seeking changes to the law based on the demands of the community, which their schools are facing,” Braveboy said.
Carter is also unhappy that the bill would extend probation terms, as prosecutors have argued that delays in implementing programs mean children don’t get enough time in rehabilitation programs. Ta.
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said that in “almost every case” in his jurisdiction, when children try to enter Juvenile Services programs, there is a delay of about four months, only for them to be immediately “removed.” He said that.
Carter said more resources are needed to treat children, but “it’s important that we have real, concrete empirical data” on how long probation should be extended.
“I think it’s important that we do it based on actual needs, not just what we think is appealing to appease the public or the perception that this is the way to solve a problem that we don’t have.” she said.
The Senate Judicial Procedures Committee is expected to discuss the bill in the coming weeks.
