Posted on 08/10/22
| News Source: WBAL TV
A Maryland state lawmaker is standing by legislation that prevents young children from facing charges and said the General Assembly failed to pass stronger gun safety measures.
Baltimore City Sen. Jill Carter, D-District 41, sponsored the Juvenile Justice Reform Bill that passed and took effect on June 1.
"I stand behind the legislation we passed," Carter said. "Criminalizing children doesn't improve public safety. The way to improve public safety is to address the child's needs very early, not stigmatizing them with criminalization, not cops putting them in handcuffs, not putting them in cages or cells, not putting them in prison."
The law sets a minimum age for the prosecution of a juvenile and provides mental health treatment and programs from the Departments of Juvenile Services and Social Services, including programs for children in need of supervision because of abuse, neglect and behavioral issues.
"The bar is 10 years old -- a person cannot be charged in the juvenile or criminal justice system," Carter said.
Carter said the law helps to prevent a child from being dehumanized or criminalized for potential misconduct.
In perhaps one of the first tests of the new law, a 9-year-old boy is accused of shooting 15-year-old Nykayla Strawder, killing her Saturday in west Baltimore.