House hearing spotlights bill to limit automatic charging of youths as adults, citing racial disparities and cost

A Maryland House Judiciary Committee hearing on Feb. 26 focused on House Bill 14-33, a measure that would limit the automatic charging of children as adults for many offenses and start more cases in the juvenile court system.

Sponsor Delegate Mary L. Tolles told the committee the measure is a “narrowly tailored approach” intended to “move the needle” on a system that she said currently costs more, takes longer and produces worse public-safety outcomes when youth are started in adult court. Tolles listed the offences that would still start in adult court if the bill passes — including first- and second-degree murder, certain sexual offenses and carjacking — and said the bill would leave in place the existing waiver process that allows prosecutors to ask a juvenile court judge to send a case to adult court.

The bill drew a coalition of supporters that included the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), advocates and former federal juvenile-justice officials. Kara Annenson, director of legislation, policy and reform at the Department of Juvenile Services, told the committee that “DJS supports HB 14-33 because it promotes efficiency, fairness and better public safety outcomes for Maryland's communities,” and observed the…