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Sponsor Seeks Ban on Certain Convicted Persons at DJS; Bar and Advocates Urge Careful Drafting (HB 475)
Summary
HB 475 would bar DJS from hiring people with specified serious felony convictions after audits revealed problematic past hires. The sponsor argued this is a commonsense public-safety step; the MSBA and League of Women Voters warned about rehabilitated credible messengers and urged time-bound or juvenile-era exceptions.
Sponsor presented House Bill 475 to prohibit the Department of Juvenile Services from hiring people with specified serious felony convictions (murder, kidnapping, sex offenses and other enumerated violent crimes). The proposal was prompted by audits and press reports indicating individuals with serious prior convictions had worked in DJS placements.
Supporters said the bill ensures safety and public confidence for youth in DJS custody. The sponsor noted other states have statutory exclusions for certain offenses and asked the committee to consider time-limited or adult-conviction-only carve-outs if needed.
Opponents including the Maryland State Bar Association and League of Women Voters said the bill as written may be overly broad, could bar rehabilitated credible-messengers who provide valuable programming, and risks excluding otherwise qualified staff with juvenile-era records that have been expunged. Sponsors signaled willingness to work on amendments to address concerns about juvenile-era convictions and rehabilitation.
Ending: No vote recorded; sponsor expressed openness to amendments that would narrow scope while keeping basic safety aims.
