(Towson, MD) -- The Maryland Public Defender's Office says youth are being kept in the Baltimore County Jail for 23 hours a day in poor conditions.
In a letter this week, the office says some cells are rat-infested and flood with sewage water.
It says the county jail is not complying with federal law regulating juvenile detention and calls for the youth in the county jail to be transferred to the Department of Juvenile Services.
Lack of compliance could lead to cuts in federal funding.
The public defender's office notes conditions at the jail are unchanged from the last time the jail was inspected five years ago.
A spokesperson for the county says they're reviewing the letter and will provide a thorough response.
Article contributed by source.metronetworks.com.