MARYLAND - There are growing calls for changes to Maryland's juvenile justice laws.
It comes in the midst of a surge in youth gun violence, including on the Eastern Shore. It's especially something prosecutors and law enforcement locally say needs to be tackled.
In 2022, the Maryland legislature approved a number of reforms – as part of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act.
One key provision sets thirteen years old as the minimum age for a child to face criminal charges except in crimes of violence.
Wicomico County State's Attorney Jamie Dykes says that greatly hampers the ability to investigate and prosecute crimes.
"The 2022 legislation has not only created more victims in terms of children are shooting children on the street, but it has in fact made victims of children by recruiting them to engage in the criminal activity," she said.
"In our elementary schools, we have baby Bloods and baby Crips. It is trending in a direction because our legislature has made those children, those elementary school age children victims," she continued.
The legislation also banned incarceration for minor offenses – and sets time length on probation – and prohibits the questioning of a minor unless a parent or guardian has been contacted.
Cambridge Police Chief Justin Todd says the city has seen a scourge of youth violence.
"We immediately began to see that impact and it's continuously getting worse as we go. Our juvenile crime is continuously going up. Vehicle thefts has been our big issue within the city limits of Cambridge," he said.
Dykes says with kids under thirteen not being charged, gangs have turned to using those kids to do their bidding.
"It's shocking and I hope the legislature will take, will soon take a different position," she said.
It's not just prosecutors and Republican legislators calling for changes.
The Democratic Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee says it will tackle this issue at the start of the next session in January.
In the wake of the mass shootings in Baltimore and Salisbury in July, there were calls for a special session in Annapolis to talk youth gun violence.
That now appears unlikely to happen, but this will be an issue that is addressed next legislative session early next year.
