Maryland’s House of Delegates is advancing legislation to revise consequences for children charged with crimes, aiming to hold the youngest offenders accountable while connecting them with treatment services.

The bill broadens oversight of the juvenile system, expands the crimes for which young offenders aged 10 to 12 can be charged, and mandates services for kids who steal cars. The House version also includes required services for kids under 13 caught carrying guns.

House Judiciary Chair Del. Luke Clippinger emphasized that the bill adds “guardrails” to better hold youth offenders and the agency responsible for rehabilitating them accountable. This approach aims to improve the services provided to children in the juvenile justice system and prevent them from falling through the cracks.

The legislative process allows for input from various stakeholders, including prosecutors, advocates, the Department of Juvenile Services, and the Office of the Public Defender. Del. J. Sandra Bartlett described the House version as landing in a “moderate” place, where no one got everything they wanted, but everyone got some of what they wanted.

House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones praised the bill for putting rehabilitation front and center. “By strengthening oversight of DJS, we will ensure that children are treated fairly and held accountable to their treatment plans,” she said in a statement.

Despite initial concerns about the bill introducing more children into the juvenile system, final amendments shied away from this approach. Advocates and public defenders still view the measures as punitive and costly, arguing that they could harm children by involving them in the criminal legal system at a young age.

While differing opinions on the bill’s impact exist, lawmakers, advocates, and stakeholders continue to engage in discussions to refine the legislation.

For more details on this, see a recent article published by The Baltimore Banner