NOVEMBER 2023-1973: "JUVENILE CRIME IN BALTIMORE CITY IS OUT OF CONTROL"

The scope of juvenile crime could force changes to state law in Maryland.

Members of the Maryland House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday heard from police, prosecutors, public defenders and Maryland Department of Juvenile Services officials, who answered questions about how to find out why young people commit violent crime and what support services they need.

Committee members brought up concerns about a catch-and-release approach to juvenile crime. Baltimore County Delegate Robin Grammer Jr., R-District 6, presented a case of an 11-year-old repeat car theft offender.

“The boy stole at least 16 cars previously. (Police) couldn’t question this individual because of one of the new laws. So, I challenge the idea that these laws aren’t impacting what’s happening,” Grammer said.

Maryland Juvenile Services Secretary Vincent Schiraldi dominated the hearing, spending much of two hours in a virtual witness chair busting myths.

“I don’t think that’s typical of what’s happening with kids under 13. Data shows kids under 13 are doing better now than before the law changed,” Schiraldi said.

DJS explained what usually happens with non-violent offenders is they are evaluated at intake and, in most cases, services are provided to address the needs of the child and jail time is avoided.

Lawmakers raised another concern, saying that police officers tell them they are reluctant to file complaints because they don’t believe they will be followed up. Schiraldi said that over the past several months, he has participated in “lunch-and-learn” tours with law enforcement to explain some of the new laws.

“Since the law was enacted, the number of complaints has gone up,” Schiraldi said.

Lawmakers also took aim at violent crimes committed by juveniles, suggesting nothing happens to them after an arrest. Baltimore City police said officers have arrested as many as 105 juveniles for car theft so far this year.

The Maryland Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs’ associations took aim at the Child Interrogation Protection Act, which prohibits police from interviewing juveniles until the child has consulted with an attorney. Police said the law is giving youth offenders a sense of impunity, saying, in part, that youths see no reason to stop committing crimes because the law gives them no reason not to.

“Youth under 13 can still be charged in the juvenile system if they are charged with a crime of violence,” Shiraldi said.

Gov. Wes Moore monitored the hearing and supports tweaking current laws, but he only offered a broad view of what he believes legislators should do, saying on Wednesday: “They need to be adjusted so that we can have greater measurements of accountability, where we know you’re not just going to continue having repeat violent offenders who find themselves back on the streets, and we have to make sure that when we’re talking about supports for our children, it means great measurements of accountability and also greater supports so we don’t have our children continue to fall into this life.”

This is the first of several hearings planned regarding the juvenile justice system. State lawmakers are considering tweaking current laws when the General Assembly meets in January.

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