City Prosecutor Pushes To Penalize Parents For Kids' Crimes, Expert Says Difficult To Do

By FOX45
Posted on 11/02/24 | News Source: FOX45

 Over the past week or so Baltimore city has seen over a dozen juveniles arrested for various crimes, including assault and armed carjackings--one the suspects 12-years-old.Now, there's more talk of holding parents accountable--in some cases--when children commit the crimes.

The concern stirred up this week after police say a 13-year-old squeegee kid--someone who washes car windshields for money-- assaulted a 51-year-old man in his vehicle in west Baltimore Tuesday morning--a school day.

"He should have been in school and his parents need to be held accountable, blame the parent. Because my 10-year-old, if he's not in school I know his whereabouts.I know where he is at all times," said Theresa Jones, a concerned motorist.

And just the day before the alleged incident, Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates appeared on Fox 45 with political commentator Armstrong Williams for his "Your Voice Your Future" Town Hall Monday.

ALSO READ|Mayor, Councilman respond after shooting leaves Pasadena teen paralyzed

Among the topics discussed, Bates reiterating his plans to crack down on parents when their children are the criminal offenders.

"There are those parents who no matter what happens they could care less what their children are going to do.Doesn't matter what age, they're just not engaged in being a parent.Those are the parents I'm looking at," said Bates.

But defense attorney Brandon Mead believes going after the parent may prove hard to do.

"There's going to be a lot of hurdles for the government to really go after parents," said Mead.

As Maryland lawmakers convene next session, Mead says, drafting legislation targeted at holding parents accountable for the crimes their children commit could be difficult at best, not possible at worst.

"I think that there will be some constitutional hurdles for the legislature to get over when it comes to holding parents accountable legally. Because, realistically, even though they are children, they are their own person," said Mead.

Still, the city's top prosecutor persists as frustration fuels the call for something to be done to hold parents or juvenile offenders accountable.

"Realistically, a lot of these kids don't have two parents homes.And if you take the one parent that they do have and throw them in jail for them acting up, then what does that do to the kid going forward," said Mead.