Maryland’s Youth Charging Reform Act shifts violent teen offenders to juvenile courts, sparking debate.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — This year, Maryland lawmakers voted to fundamentally shift how the state handles its youngest violent offenders. Under the new Youth Charging Reform Act, dozens of teenagers who previously would have been automatically sent to adult court for violent felonies will now stay in the juvenile system.
While criminal justice reform advocates have praised the move as a way to prioritize rehabilitation, nearly every State’s Attorney in Maryland fought against it. Now, as the 2026 budget season heats up
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