Criminal Justice (Juvenile Justice)

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 626: Custodial Interrogation of Minors - Admissibility of Statements (Exonerated 5 Act)

This bill creates a rule that a minor's statement during a custodial interrogation is presumed involuntary and inadmissible in court if law enforcement intentionally used false information to obtain it. It directly affects minors facing juvenile or criminal charges, as their statements could be excluded from proceedings under this presumption. The presumption can be overcome only with clear and convincing evidence proving the statement was voluntary despite the false information. The law applies to all custodial interrogations of minors in Maryland, modifying admissibility standards under Maryland's judicial code.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePreserves minors' rights by barring coerced statements obtained via deception, aligning with due process and civil rights protections in criminal proceedings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 438: Adult Prison School Board Model Development Committee

HB 438 establishes the Adult Prison School Board Model Development Committee to create a school board system for correctional education in Maryland's prisons and juvenile facilities. The committee, composed of state officials, correctional education representatives, and experts (including formerly incarcerated individuals and nonprofit advocates), must develop a funding and operational plan by June 2028, examining costs for staff, materials, and budget management. This procedural bill does not enact immediate policy changes but sets a timeline for recommendations to the Governor and legislature. It expires automatically on June 30, 2028, after its two-year study period.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes committee to develop correctional education programs in prisons, directly advancing rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through structured educational systems in correctional facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

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signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 323: Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction, Detention, and Confinement (Youth Charging Reform Act)

SB 323 (Youth Charging Reform Act) removes restrictions that previously prevented Maryland juvenile courts from handling cases involving youth aged 16 and older accused of serious crimes. It repeals provisions that excluded such cases for offenses like murder, robbery, gun crimes, and aggravated violence, expanding juvenile court jurisdiction to include these charges. Now, youth 16+ facing these specific allegations will be processed in juvenile court instead of being automatically sent to adult court. This change affects juvenile courts, prosecutors, and youth aged 16+ charged with the listed offenses under Maryland law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands juvenile court jurisdiction for 16+ youth in serious crimes, shifting cases from adult system to rehab-focused juvenile court, advancing reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Juvenile Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 475: Department of Juvenile Services - Employees - Prohibited Convictions (Juvenile Offender Protection Act)

HB 475, the Juvenile Offender Protection Act, prohibits Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services from hiring or retaining employees convicted of specific serious crimes, including abduction, kidnapping, murder, rape, sexual offenses against minors, and certain assaults. It directly affects individuals seeking or holding jobs with the Department of Juvenile Services who have prior convictions for the listed offenses. The law adds these restrictions to Maryland's Code, with an exception allowing hiring if the conviction was reversed or vacated. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits hiring employees with serious convictions in juvenile services to protect minors, strengthening institutional safety standards within criminal justice system oversight.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 23, 2026

HB 449: Juvenile Justice Restoration Act

HB 449, the Juvenile Justice Restoration Act, requires law enforcement officers to consult with an attorney before questioning a child (under 18) in custody. It mandates that officers first notify the child’s parent/guardian and ensure the child speaks with an attorney - either one retained by the parent or provided by the Office of the Public Defender - before any interrogation. Exceptions only apply if an officer believes immediate public safety is threatened (with limited questions) or if a parent consents to skip the attorney consultation. The bill also requires detailed records of notifications and attorney contact, and creates a strong presumption that any statement obtained without compliance is inadmissible in court. The Office of the Public Defender must develop policies to guide attorneys on these new requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires attorney consultation before questioning minors, protecting juvenile rights and aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like enhanced due process.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 22, 2026

HB 389: Juveniles - Detention and Confinement - Limitations on Juvenile Contact With Incarcerated Adults

HB 389 prohibits holding juveniles (under 18) who are arrested, convicted, or awaiting trial for criminal charges in any facility where they might have contact with, see, or hear adults in jail or prison. It bans holding juveniles in adult correctional facilities except for up to six hours during processing if they are kept separated by sight and sound from adults and then transferred to a juvenile facility. The bill requires courts to place juveniles in secure juvenile facilities unless no space is available, the juvenile is released pretrial, or the court determines juvenile facility detention would pose a risk of harm. This law directly affects young people in Maryland's justice system who face criminal charges.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits juvenile contact with adult inmates in correctional facilities, aligning with criminal justice reform to protect youth and reduce recidivism through proper juvenile detention practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 409: Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction (Youth Charging Reform Act)

HB 409, the Youth Charging Reform Act, expands juvenile court jurisdiction by removing automatic transfers to adult court for certain serious offenses committed by youth aged 16 and older. It directly affects Maryland youth aged 16+ accused of specific crimes like robbery, murder, carjacking, or firearm-related offenses - previously excluded from juvenile court. The bill repeals sections that barred juvenile court from handling these cases, meaning such offenses will now typically be processed in juvenile court unless a judge orders transfer. This change modifies jurisdiction rules in Maryland’s Courts, Criminal Procedure, and Education codes, shifting how these cases are handled without altering sentencing outcomes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands juvenile court jurisdiction to avoid automatic adult court transfers for youth, promoting rehabilitation-focused sentencing over punitive measures - core criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Juvenile Justice

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died · Maryland · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SB 436: Minors Convicted as Adults - Sentencing - Transfer to Juvenile Court

SB 436 creates a legal pathway for minors convicted as adults in Maryland to be transferred to juvenile court under specific circumstances. It requires courts to transfer a minor to juvenile court if they have clear and convincing evidence the victim of the minor's offense previously committed a sex crime or human trafficking act against the minor within three months before the offense. If transferred, the juvenile court must then determine an appropriate juvenile disposition. This bill directly affects minors convicted as adults who are victims of recent sexual abuse or trafficking by the person they harmed, modifying sentencing rules to prioritize juvenile court oversight in these cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill transfers minors convicted as adults to juvenile court for rehabilitation-focused disposition, aligning with criminal justice reform by reducing punitive adult sentencing for vulnerable youth.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Juvenile Justice Sentencing

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 310: Criminal Records - Maryland Judiciary Case Search - Traffic Violation by a Minor

SB 310 prohibits the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system from referencing records of traffic violations committed by minors (under 18) under the Maryland Vehicle Law or other traffic laws. It directly affects minors who receive traffic citations, ensuring these records are not displayed in public online searches. The bill amends Maryland's Criminal Procedure law to require the case search system to omit all references to such minor traffic violations. This change takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not alter the existence of the underlying records.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves minor traffic violations from public searches to prevent long-term barriers for youth, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism and protecting minors' opportunities.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill removes minors' traffic violation data from public online case searches, directly enhancing data privacy protections within digital systems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 16, 2026

HB 12: Juvenile Sex Offender Registry - Qualifying Offenses and Access

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands juvenile sex offender registry to include more offenses, increasing mandatory registration and criminalization without rehabilitation focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement

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