[Baltimore Sun] FOX45: Concerns grow among top Maryland prosecutors about possible change in juvenile law
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There is growing concern among several of the state’s top prosecutors about lawmakers in Annapolis reintroducing legislation that would automatically charge young offenders as juveniles regardless of the crime’s severity when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.
Fox45 News sent questions to all state’s attorneys about the possible reintroduction of the bill.
“Juvenile court has very serious time constraints,” Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger said. “You’re going to be constantly pushing the case back while still trying to waive them up to adult court.”
Shellenberger’s concerns are echoed by other top prosecutors, including those from Anne Arundel, Calvert and Carroll counties.
Carroll County State’s Attorney Haven Shoemaker believes the proposed change would hinder prosecutors’ ability to seek adult trials for severe offenses, compromising public safety.
The debate over juvenile justice comes amid alarming statistics from the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, showing a 208% increase in juvenile crime over the past three years. Deputy State’s Attorney Catharine Rosenblatt expressed deep concern over the surge in violent crimes committed by younger offenders.
“We’re seeing more and more violent crimes from kids at a younger and younger age,” Rosenblatt said. “It’s disheartening. I guess we have to work harder.”
This legislative push follows a failed attempt in 2022 by Sen. Jill Carter, a Baltimore City Democrat, who sought to keep young offenders in the juvenile justice system, with an option to petition for a transfer to adult court. While Sen. Carter’s bill did not pass, Democratic Sen. Will Smith, of Montgomery County, has hinted at reviving similar legislation for the 2025 session.
“I think the continued reforms and making sure the folks in the juvenile justice system are getting the services they need but also charged as youths, because frankly, we put them on the path toward getting more services but also more preventative,” Sen. Smith stated.
Maryland’s new juvenile justice law, set to take effect on Nov. 1, expands the Department of Juvenile Services’ jurisdiction for children aged 10 to 12. It introduces measures such as mandatory petitions for supervision in vehicle theft cases, extended probation periods, and an oversight panel to monitor progress within the DJS.
“We worked very hard on the Juvenile Justice Reform Act,” Shellenberger noted. “Let’s have a year or two with the juvenile reforms to see how things turn out.”
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