ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The Maryland Senate has passed a juvenile justice reform measure. The bill, which was approved Monday, now goes to the House.
The Maryland Senate today joined the House of Delegates in passing SB691/HB459, a bill crafted by Maryland’s bipartisan Juvenile Justice Reform Council to reform the state’s juvenile justice system. pic.twitter.com/jf7gM92Gip
— The Sentencing Project (@SentencingProj) March 21, 2022
The measure generally says a child younger than 13 won't be subject to the jurisdiction of juvenile court for delinquency proceedings. Juvenile courts would have jurisdiction over a child who is at least 10 and has committed the most serious crimes, like murder and other crimes of violence.
The bill is based on recommendations from a state panel that studied juvenile justice reform.
Its passage comes as lawmakers reached a milestone day in their 90-day session with three weeks left.