Criminal Justice (Juvenile Justice)

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 737: Juvenile Law - Probation and Treatment Services - Required Disposition (Parental Accountability Act)

SB 737, the "Parental Accountability Act," requires Maryland juvenile courts to place children on probation (instead of out-of-home placement) if they’ve repeatedly committed specific offenses: violent acts (like crimes of violence or firearm use) or been adjudicated as habitually truant more than once. The probation must include a court-approved treatment service plan and mandate participation from the child’s parents, guardians, or custodians in rehabilitation services. This bill directly affects youth with repeat offenses in these categories and their families, shifting focus from confinement to structured support. It amends Maryland’s juvenile code to prioritize treatment plans over secure detention for qualifying cases, excluding minor offenses like first-time cannabis possession or technical violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates probation with treatment over out-of-home placement for juveniles, prioritizing rehabilitation and family involvement to reduce recidivism, aligning with reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Drug Policy Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2026

HB 1340: State Government - Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission - Establishment

HB 1340 establishes the Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission as an independent state body to improve education access for people in Maryland's criminal and juvenile justice systems. The commission, composed of 11 appointed members including state agency heads, legislators, and external experts, must develop a statewide education framework using data to reduce recidivism and increase public safety. Key tasks include researching best practices for education programs, evaluating current workforce training, forming an advisory group with justice reform organizations, and seeking technical assistance from national experts. This commission directly affects incarcerated individuals and justice system stakeholders by focusing on education as a strategy to improve outcomes. The bill creates a structured process for policy recommendations but does not change existing education programs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes commission to improve prison education access, aiming to reduce recidivism and enhance public safety through rehabilitation programs95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes commission to develop education framework for justice system, expanding access to programs aimed at reducing recidivism through education95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 921: Juvenile Law - Confinement and Restrictive Housing - Limitations

HB 921 limits when minors in Maryland juvenile facilities can be placed in restrictive housing (isolation or special confinement). It prohibits using restrictive housing for discipline, punishment, or staff convenience, and requires facilities to use it only for immediate safety risks (like harm to self/others or facility security) for the shortest time possible (max 6 hours). Minors can request restrictive housing or withdraw that request at any time, and facilities must provide mental health screenings within 1 hour of placement. The bill also mandates that minors in restrictive housing receive the same access to phone calls, visits, medical care, education, and recreation as other minors, unless safety is at risk.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts punitive use of juvenile solitary confinement, mandates safety justification, limits duration, and prioritizes mental health - core criminal justice reform principles reducing unnecessary confinement.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health services during restrictive housing for minors, directly supporting mental health care access in juvenile facilities per bill's requirements.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Mental Health

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signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 524: Juvenile Records - Access by Baltimore City Mayor's Office

SB 524 allows Baltimore City's Mayor's Offices of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, Children and Family Success, and African American Male Engagement to access confidential juvenile police and court records under specific circumstances. The bill modifies Maryland law to permit these offices to view records *only* when providing services to a child whose record is involved, for developing treatment plans or delivering programs. It explicitly states that this access does not violate confidentiality rules, but the offices would be liable for unauthorized releases of such records. The law directly affects Baltimore City's targeted offices and the children receiving services from them, while maintaining existing protections for juvenile records elsewhere.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables juvenile service offices to access records for treatment planning, advancing rehabilitation and reducing recidivism per criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Policing

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 537: Youth Delinquency Prevention Fund - Establishment

SB 537 establishes Maryland's Youth Delinquency Prevention Fund to provide grants to community programs focused on preventing youth delinquency, suicide, substance abuse, and supporting youth development. The fund, administered by the Office, receives state budget appropriations and interest earnings, and is designated as a non-lapsing special fund (meaning it doesn't expire or revert to the General Fund). It requires annual reports detailing grant distribution, recipient demographics (by age, race, geography, and ethnicity), services provided, and unspent funds. The fund specifically supports community-based programs like youth service bureaus and aims to supplement, not replace, existing youth funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state budget appropriations to fund youth prevention programs via a non-lapsing special fund, directly advancing public service funding under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates fund for youth prevention programs targeting delinquency/suicide/substance abuse, directly advancing criminal justice reform by addressing root causes to reduce future system involvement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Juvenile Justice

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 776: Juvenile Law - Child in Need of Supervision - Mandatory Petition (NyKayla Strawder Memorial Act)

HB 776, the NyKayla Strawder Memorial Act, requires Maryland intake officers to automatically file a petition declaring a child under 13 a "child in need of supervision" if the child is alleged to have caused a death through a criminal act (e.g., homicide or manslaughter). This applies specifically to cases where the child's actions would be a felony if committed by an adult. The bill removes the intake officer's discretion to handle such cases informally or dismiss them, mandating formal juvenile court processing. Law enforcement must also forward these complaints directly to the Department of Juvenile Services.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates formal juvenile proceedings for under-13s in felony cases, removing discretion and expanding criminalization of juvenile behavior, opposing reform trends that seek to divert youth from the justice system.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 715: Washington County - Juveniles - Truancy Reduction Pilot Program

SB 715 authorizes the Circuit Administrative Judge of the Fourth Circuit to establish a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program specifically in Washington County's juvenile court. The bill amends existing Maryland law to add Washington County as a jurisdiction eligible for this pilot program, which aims to address student absenteeism through court-based interventions. The program would operate under the existing framework used in other counties (like Dorchester and Worcester) but is limited to Washington County for a defined period. It directly affects Washington County juvenile courts and students with chronic absenteeism, without creating new funding or changing current truancy enforcement procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAddresses juvenile truancy through court-based interventions, preventing escalation into criminal justice system and aligning with reform goals of reducing recidivism.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAddresses student absenteeism via court-based interventions, directly supporting K-12 attendance and educational access through targeted program expansion.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Juvenile Justice

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 19, 2026

HB 1058: Youth Delinquency Prevention Fund - Establishment

HB 1058 establishes Maryland's Youth Delinquency Prevention Fund to provide grants to community-based programs, including youth service bureaus, that offer preventive services like delinquency prevention, youth suicide prevention, substance use prevention, and youth development. The fund, administered by the state office, is funded through state budget appropriations and interest earnings, and it must be used exclusively for these preventive services without replacing existing funding. The bill requires annual reports detailing grant distribution, the number of children served (disaggregated by age, region, race, and ethnicity), and whether served youth later interacted with justice systems. The fund is non-lapsing, meaning money remains available year-to-year and cannot revert to the General Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes new state fund requiring budget appropriations for youth programs, explicitly increasing public service funding without replacing existing resources.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes fund for youth delinquency prevention programs, directly advancing criminal justice reform by reducing future involvement through preventive services like substance use and youth development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Juvenile Justice

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1457: Washington County - Juveniles - Truancy Reduction Pilot Program

HB 1457 authorizes the Circuit Administrative Judge of Maryland's Fourth Circuit to establish a Truancy Reduction Pilot Program specifically in Washington County's juvenile court. The bill directly affects Washington County juveniles who are truant and the juvenile court system there, aiming to address school absenteeism through court-led interventions rather than punitive measures. Key provisions amend existing law to explicitly include Washington County in the list of jurisdictions where such pilot programs may operate, alongside other counties already covered. The program would operate using state budget funds and requires consultation with other circuit administrative judges before implementation, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates non-punitive truancy intervention in juvenile court to prevent youth from entering justice system, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of diversion over punishment.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAddresses school absenteeism through court-led interventions, promoting student attendance and educational access in K-12 settings without punitive measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Juvenile Justice

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 22, 2026

SB 296: Juveniles - Detention and Confinement - Limitations on Juvenile Contact With Incarcerated Adults

This bill prohibits detaining juveniles (under 18) in any facility where they could see, hear, or otherwise have contact with incarcerated adults. It applies to all juveniles awaiting trial, convicted, or held in custody for offenses tried in adult court. The law requires juveniles to be held in secure juvenile facilities unless temporarily held for up to 6 hours in an adult facility - while separated by sight/sound - pending transfer to a juvenile facility. Exceptions for capacity issues or safety risks remain but must be documented by the court.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents juveniles from contact with incarcerated adults in detention, aligning with criminal justice reform by reducing trauma and promoting rehabilitation in appropriate facilities.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Juvenile Justice

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