Youth Charging Reform Act signed into law

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]THE BALTIMORE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER IN EAST BALTIMORE.

[00:00:05]THE LAW GOES INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST.

[00:00:07]AMONG MANY NEW THINGS, JUDGES WILL HAVE THE DISCRETION ON WHICH COURT 16 AND 17 YEAR OLDS WILL BE TRIED FOR SPECIFIC CHARGES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUTURE OF OUR STATE IS PROTECTED AND SECURED.

[00:00:21]THE YOUTH CHARGING REFORM ACT IS GETTING PRAISED AND PANNED.

[00:00:25]YOU NEED TO GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY.

[00:00:28]YOU NEED TO GIVE THEM SECOND CHANCES, AND I BELIEVE IN THAT, ESPECIALLY A YOUNG CHILD.

[00:00:33]THERE’S NO MECHANISM WITH CHARGING YOU AS AN ADULT WHEN YOU’RE A REPEAT OFFENDER.

[00:00:37]THE LAW RAISES THE AGE WHEN A YOUTH COULD BE CHARGED AS AN ADULT FROM 14 TO 16.

[00:00:42]HOWEVER, 14 AND 15 YEAR OLDS CHARGED WITH MURDER OR RAPE WOULD STILL GO TO THE ADULT SYSTEM.

[00:00:47]BUT 16 AND 17 YEAR OLDS CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT AND CERTAIN FIREARM OFFENSES WOULD START IN THE JUVENILE SYSTEM.

[00:00:54]IT KEEPS CASES IN THE RIGHT COURT FROM THE START, WHICH ACTUALLY, AND BY THE DATA, MAKES US SAFER AND IS BETTER FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE.

[00:01:03]THE MARYLAND STATE’S ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION CONSIDERS THE NEW LAW A MOVE BACKWARDS.

[00:01:08]THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES IT ALLOWS YOUTH CAUGHT CARRYING GUNS, COMMITTING ARMED ROBBERY OR VIOLENT ASSAULTS A PASS.

[00:01:13]THEY CLAIM DJS CAN’T HANDLE THE NEW CASE LOADS.

[00:01:16]BALTIMORE COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY SCOTT SHELLENBERGER SAYS TRANSFERRING OFFENDERS FROM THE JUVENILE SYSTEM TO ADULT COURT IS NOT ONLY DIFFICULT, BUT THERE’S A LOOPHOLE IN THE PROCESS.

[00:01:25]YOU CAN GET CAUGHT WITH A HANDGUN, GO TO JUVENILE COURT AND BE CHARGED, BE RELEASED WHILE WE’RE TRYING TO TRANSFER YOU UP DURING THAT PROCESS, YOU CAN GET CAUGHT AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND IT STILL GOES TO JUVENILE COURT.

[00:01:40]14 YEAR OLD WHOSE FUTURE SHOULDN’T HINGE ON WHICH COURTROOM HE OR SHE WALKS INTO.

[00:01:45]THAT’S WHAT THE YOUTH CHARGING REFORM ACT FOCUSES ON.

[00:01:49]MARYLAND AUTOMATICALLY CHARGED KIDS AS YOUNG AS 14 AS ADULTS FOR CASES THAT ALMOST ALWAYS, ALMOST ALWAYS IN A SUPER MAJORITY OF CASES, ENDED BACK INTO THE JUVENILE COURT ANYWAY.

[00:01:59]THE NEW LAW PROHIBITS JUVENILES CHARGED AS AN ADULT FROM BEING DETAINED IN ADULT FACILITIES, AND REQUIRES AN AGENCY WITHIN THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE TO ISSUE ANNUAL REPORTS ON THE NUMBER OF YOUTH CHARGED AS ADULTS.

[00:02:11]THE NATURE OF THAT CHARGE AND WHERE THEY’