Criminal Justice (Courts)

HB 159 proposes to amend Maryland law regarding mail theft by creating new prohibitions on stealing mail or packages under specific circumstances. The bill establishes two new sections (3-905 and 3-905.1) in the Criminal Law Article, defining prohibited acts and penalties for mail theft. It also clarifies that violations of these new provisions will be tried in District Court or Circuit Court, depending on the offense severity. This bill directly affects individuals who steal or possess stolen mail or packages, and it is currently pending in the Maryland General Assembly.

This bill expands Maryland's juvenile sex offender registry to include specific offenses like child pornography violations, sexual acts against minors, and certain sexual offenses that would be crimes if committed by adults. It requires juveniles (at least 14 years old at the time of the offense) found guilty in court for these offenses to be registered in a separate juvenile registry, distinct from the adult registry. The bill also allows school superintendents or their designees to access the registry for safety purposes, in addition to law enforcement. Juveniles on the registry must update their information and provide a digital photo every three months until they turn 18 or lose juvenile court jurisdiction, whichever occurs later. The changes will take effect on October 1, 2026.

HB 287 modifies Maryland's lifetime sexual offender supervision requirements. It mandates lifelong supervision for individuals convicted of specific serious sexual offenses (like crimes against minors under certain age thresholds or repeat offenses), requiring conditions such as GPS tracking, restrictions near schools, mandatory treatment programs, and prohibitions on contact with minors. Violating these conditions can result in misdemeanor or felony penalties (up to 10 years in jail), with supervision continuing even after punishment. Individuals may petition for discharge after serving at least five years, subject to court review.