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As Maryland鈥檚 top Democratic leaders continue to assess legislation to tweak the state鈥檚 juvenile justice system, all or portions of other juvenile-related bills could be incorporated in the bigger legislative package backed by the governor and key committee chairs.
Sen. Cory V. McCray (D-Baltimore City) wants the state Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) to report all shootings that involve juveniles who are under the department鈥檚 supervision.
The legislation McCray is sponsoring 鈥斅犅犫�� would require the agency to document whether juveniles were involved in fatal and non-fatal shootings, the age of each individual and the jurisdiction where the juvenile resided. The DJS report would be required to describe the process and actions conducted by the department after each incident.
After McCray presented the bill before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Thursday, he said he doesn鈥檛 mind if his legislation gets included in the comprehensive聽听产颈濒濒.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 care who gets the credit. It needs to be done,鈥� he said.
McCray said it鈥檚 important to know about all youth-involved shootings to help keep young people from retaliating or being retaliated against.
鈥淗ow we do that is [to ensure] DJS [reaches youth] when they are supposed to,鈥� McCray said.
The agency supports McCray鈥檚 legislation, according to a letter dated Wednesday from Karalyn Aanenson, director of legislation, policy, and reform for DJS. The letter states the agency already examines fatalities of youth under its care, but not non-fatal shootings.
The agency recommends that the Commission on Juvenile Justice Reform and Emerging and Best Practices review non-fatal shootings. That commission, established by 2022 juvenile justice reform measures, hasn鈥檛 been fully seated and its membership would more than double under this year鈥檚 proposed juvenile law labeled聽.
Sen. William C. Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery), chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, said the goal would be to allow McCray鈥檚 bill to go through the approval process and then incorporate it into overarching juvenile law measures.
Smith said portions of a bill sponsored by Sen. Chris West (R-Baltimore County) could also be included.
Similarities with West鈥檚聽聽include the creation of a smaller commission to review and assess the department鈥檚 education and treatment programs, make recommendations to improve the department and research evidence-based programs.
West鈥檚 bill would assess the costs of the department鈥檚 programs over the last five fiscal years.
He said it鈥檚 the most important bill he will sponsor during this year鈥檚 90-day session 鈥渂ecause of the imperative short- and long-term impact.鈥�
鈥淎s we鈥檙e all aware by now, both chambers of the General Assembly and the governor [have] signaled their intention to make juvenile justice a top priority this session,鈥� West told the committee. 鈥淩egardless of which side one might fall on the policy issues presented by the various juvenile bills pending before us, I think we all agree that it鈥檚 absolutely essential that the state of Maryland be in a position to provide effective treatment services to juveniles who have gotten themselves in trouble.鈥�
Another juvenile-related bill being considered separately is聽聽sponsored by Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Baltimore City). The bill is named after NyKayla Strawder, a 15-year-old girl shot in August 2022 by a 9-year-old boy. The shooting took place in Carter鈥檚 district.
The bill was slated to be included into the larger juvenile law package, but some of NyKayla鈥檚 family聽聽and urged lawmakers to make it a stand-alone bill.
The measure would require a police officer to file a complaint to the department if a child younger than 13 years old commits a crime 鈥渢hat results in the death of a victim.鈥�
In addition, it would make it mandatory for an intake officer with the department to file a Children in Need of Supervision petition. The petition, also known as a CINS, enables law enforcement personnel, social service representatives, educators and residents to fill out a form so a troubled youth and the youth鈥檚 family can receive a variety of services.
Those referrals, which are managed by the department, have increased, but referrals are not being made in聽.
