Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has signed the Youth Charging Reform Act, which will greatly reduce the number of offenses that automatically land kids in adult courts — including gun and violent crimes.
Critics, including prosecutors from across Maryland, say it’ll make communities less safe, while advocates for the law say it’ll make the system more fair and get kids the help they need through juvenile detention.
“You need to give people an opportunity, you need to give them second chances, and I believe in that,” said Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk.
Supporters say it’s better for kids charged with crimes to go through juvenile court, where their needs can be better met and they’ll have access to programs and services.
Experts estimate roughly 500 fewer juveniles will automatically be charged as adults under the law.
“To make sure that the future of our state is protected and secured,” Moore said.
Under the reform act, a 16 or 17-year-old charged with offenses such as kidnapping, robbery, assault, third degree sex offense or an array of gun crimes will start in juvenile court instead of being charged as an adult.
The law is also meant to deal with racial disparities. Between 2009 and 2024, 80% of Maryland youth charged as adults were Black, according to the Sentencing Project.
“It keeps cases in the right court from the start, which actually, and by the data, makes us safer and is better for those young people,” said Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson.
But some argue it’ll make communities less safe because they say the juvenile system is broken, not equipped to handle a huge influx of kids and there aren’t the programs or resources in place to help them.
Critics also say it doesn’t address the kids who repeatedly get arrested and released.
“I am personally in favor of getting kids treatment, but I’m not in favor of taking more violent offenders, putting them into the juvenile justice system, with the system not ready to provide programs for them,” said Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy. “And they’re already overloaded with the numbers of kids they’re already dealing with.”
The bi-partisan Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association said the law is taking the state backward.
“[…] will allow youth with guns — who commit robberies and violent assaults — to be given a free pass time after time when they are caught illegally carrying and/or using a firearm,” it said in a statement. “[…] violent juvenile crime continues to grow out of control because the Department of Juvenile Services is ill-equipped to handle these young, violent, repeat offenders.”
“It’s hard to believe that we’re going to be safer with this having been done,” McCarthy said
The governor’s office will be required to report yearly how many youths are charged as adults and the nature of those charges.
The law goes into effect in October.
The state will also no longer be allowed to house juveniles in adult jails starting in 2029.
from Local – NBC4 Washington https://ift.tt/s0DdzrW
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