The Maryland House of Representatives on Friday approved a measure aimed at improving accountability and rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system after some crimes, such as auto theft and handgun violations, have increased in parts of the state. .
The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives voted 126-6 in favor of the bill, with six Democrats voting against it. The Senate is moving forward with a largely similar bill, but there are some differences that both chambers will need to iron out.
Baltimore officials have cited an increase in auto thefts by juveniles, and one section of the bill that’s gotten a lot of attention is how the state would address auto thefts involving children between the ages of 10 and 12. It’s about how you deal with it.
Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice currently faces 200 sexual abuse lawsuits
Currently, children under the age of 13 can only be prosecuted for violent crimes. Earlier in the session, lawmakers considered expanding the jurisdiction of the Maryland Juvenile Service to children under 13 for firearm offenses, motor vehicle theft, third-degree sex offenses and aggravated animal cruelty.
The measures moving forward in the House and Senate are largely similar, but include some changes to how cases involving children between the ages of 10 and 12 involved in auto thefts are handled.
The House-approved bill would put them into a diversionary program for first-time offenders, rather than supervision through juvenile detention centers, in hopes of changing their behavior without putting them in the juvenile justice system.
Baltimore Democratic Congressman Luke Clippinger, chairman of the Maryland House Judiciary Committee, speaks about the Juvenile Justice Act, which was passed by the Maryland House of Representatives in Annapolis, Maryland, on March 1, 2024. There is a photo of me there. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
“To be clear, we are still in the process,” said Rep. Luke Clippinger, a Baltimore Democrat who chairs the House Judiciary Committee and co-sponsored the bill. “The Senate passed this differently than the House, and there will be further consultation.”
In the case of auto theft, the Senate uses the state’s “Children in Need of Supervision” process, which allows people to file complaints about children with the Juvenile Bureau. Sen. Will Smith, chairman of the Senate Judicial Procedures Committee, said the CINS process does not allow for informal judgments. The courts will be involved, but the children are not going to jail.
“We think this is a more sophisticated, appropriate and balanced approach, but we’re going to have a meeting and see where we land, but that’s where we are right now,” said Smith, the Montgomery County Democratic Party member. said Smith, of the Montgomery County Democratic Party. A negotiation process initiated by both chambers to bridge differences in bills.
Regarding firearms, Smith said the Senate bill would give some firearms offenses a delinquent discretion, which would be discretionary.
“Firearms are inherently dangerous, and there are very few circumstances in which a person must be placed in supervised housing, whether because they come from a poor home environment or because they are a threat to themselves or our society. “There are,” Smith said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Rep. Jason Buckel, the House minority leader from Western Maryland, said the House bill is not perfect, but it is a step forward in addressing problems with the current law.
“This isn’t perfect for me, it’s not perfect for many others here, but I’ve taken the time and effort to come up with something to recognize that there is a problem, that there is a problem. Thank you for your work. I hope and encourage people to support this bill because I believe we can do better.” Buckel said.
Opponents of the bill argue that the bill would limit the crimes for which children under 13 can be criminally charged in order to address the disproportionate number of young minorities trapped in the system. Lawmakers say reform efforts from two years ago are already being undermined.
