Minors Convicted as Adults - Sentencing - Transfer to Juvenile Court

HB 441 modifies sentencing for minors convicted as adults in Maryland by creating a specific pathway to transfer their case to juvenile court under limited circumstances. The bill requires courts to consider transferring a minor to juvenile court if they find, by clear and convincing evidence, that the victim of the minor’s offense previously committed a sex crime or human trafficking against the minor within three months before the current offense. If transferred, the juvenile court must impose a juvenile disposition instead of an adult sentence. This bill directly affects minors convicted of crimes where the victim was also their abuser, changing sentencing options for those specific cases.