The 2024 legislative session brought changes to juvenile justice procedures in Maryland, and research shows the Maryland General Assembly was one of 43 state legislatures that took up the issue this year.
According to Stateline, an editorial arm of the Pew Charitable Trusts, nearly every state this year consider legislation addressing juvenile justice procedures. Age limits, detention, education, and diversion programs were all elements of the discussions. Information from the National Conference of State Legislatures database chronicles some of those efforts and what components were approved in the 43 states that took up the issueFrom the article:
This year, states including Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Tennessee have examined ways to tackle crimes committed by children. Some of these bills would establish independent oversight of juvenile corrections agencies, create new avenues for youth to access diversion programs, or automatically transfer juveniles convicted of certain crimes into the adult legal system.
Bills range from tougher penalties for youth offenders and expanded law enforcement powers in dealing with juvenile crime to earlier community intervention and more reliable channels into diversion programs. The legislative trend reflects a broader national debate on how to address rising crime rates and, maybe more accurately, changes in crimes involving young people.
