Wicomico Co. State’s Attorney brief Judiciary Committee on “concerning increase in juvenile crime”

SALISBURY, Md. – Wicomico County State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes briefed the Judiciary Committee of the Maryland House of Delegates on Wednesday on the concerning increase in juvenile crime.

“Salisbury is in the middle of a gang war. You have charged law enforcement with keeping the peace and protecting the community – all while their hands are tied behind their backs,” said State’s Attorney Dykes.

We’re told her comments focused on the effects of the Child Interrogation Protect Act, which was enacted just last year. This law has essentially eliminated law enforcement’s ability to interview juvenile suspects.

“It is our children who are more likely to be killed by juveniles wielding guns,” said State’s Attorney Dykes, pointing to an incident in April that left one child dead and another charged with his murder. State’s Attorney Dykes advised the Judiciary Committee that, since that incident, “Salisbury has had 13 related shootings with numerous other victims.”

This violence includes Salisbury’s first mass shooting during the early morning hours of July 5th, which left a 15-year-old boy dead and seven others injured, including two children.

This briefing comes after Governor Moore’s recent comments stressing the need to address juvenile crime and hold adult repeat offenders accountable. State’s Attorney Dykes has been working with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to draft legislation to address these challenges. This includes increasing the ability of the juvenile court to supervise and provide services to juveniles, revising the interrogation law to give law enforcement more investigative tools, and enhancing penalties for repeat offenders committing crimes using firearms.