MD Lawmakers propose juvenile criminal measure

Juveniles charged as adults for serious crimes in the state of Maryland can be placed in adult prisons while they await trial. Some lawmakers who are concerned for their safety are trying to pass a bill that would have them sent to “secure juvenile facilities” instead.

But not everyone is on board with this idea including Wicomico County State’s Attorney, Matt Maciarello. Maciarello worries this legislation could hurt other young people in the Juvenile Justice system.

47 ABC spoke with Maciarello and he told us, “It is a bill that should be killed and because again its putting juveniles at risk in our community.”
The State Department of Juvenile Services recently began housing all eligible youths charged as adults in its juvenile center in Baltimore City. According to the national institute of corrections, in recent years, Baltimore city has had between one hundred and one hundred and forty youth in the city jail.

47 ABC also spoke with a few locals who shared their thoughts on the measure. Cyndi Beale of Allen tells us, “I think it would be a good idea to have juveniles separated from adults because sometimes juveniles make mistakes.”

Salisbury resident Bob Connelly tells 47 ABC, “I work with kids and kids are, you know, they’re not fully developed they don’t have the same rational thinking capabilities so yeah they’re different breed from adults for sure.”

In the state of Maryland, teenagers 14-years-old and older, are automatically charged as adults for serious offenses. 16 and 17-year-olds are charged as adults if they commit one of 33 offenses, including assault and manslaughter. But this proposed measure, would change all of that.

Maciarello also tells 47 ABC, “It completely divests the judge of discretion. Judges have the job for a reason they can make good judgement calls from the bench, this takes it out of their hands.”