By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com

The Maryland House of Delegates’ Judiciary Committee unanimously voted in favor of a major juvenile justice bill, HB 814/SB744, which elicited outrage from rights activists and child advocates.

With Black children making up 77 percent of the children detained in Maryland juvenile detention facilities, this legislation, as it stands, could increase that number, prompting much concern.

“The young people of Maryland don’t need us to turn to more ineffective, failed ‘tough on crime’ policing and incarceration,” said Hashim Jabar and Zakiya Sankara-Jabar, co-executive directors at Racial Justice NOW, in a statement on Feb. 26. “They urgently need us to make deep investments in providing a world-class education, community-led, culturally relevant programs. Investing in our children should be our highest priority.”

The Juvenile Law Reform makes several changes to the juvenile system, including increasing the juvenile court’s jurisdiction to include 10- through 12-year-olds who allegedly committed certain violent crimes. Those crimes include car theft, animal abuse, offenses involving firearms and third-degree sexual offenses. Currently, no child under 13 can be charged with a crime.

“HB 814 remains a plague on Black and brown communities,” said Natasha M. Dartigue, Maryland’s public defender. “The Office of the Public Defender (OPD) will continue to amplify the voices of marginalized communities, fight laws that have a disparate impact on Black and brown people [and] challenge systems that further strain and impact the quality of legal services that OPD provides.”

The bill also extends the maximum time for several probationary periods and implements various required reporting and referrals for the Department of Juvenile Services to ensure children are not left without needed services.

Those who approve of the bill say it is a comprehensive approach that addresses critical issues, encourages accountability and increases public safety.

“Our goal is not to lock every child up; the goal is rehabilitation, but there has to be accountability,” said Aisha Braveboy, Prince George’s County state’s attorney, at the bill hearing on Feb. 8. “What we don’t always know in the system is what is happening to the child. Are they receiving the services ordered by the court, and if they are not receiving the services, why aren’t they?”

She added, “Having some additional safeguards in the legislation that can provide for accountability is extremely important and that’s why we support this bill.” 

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