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House Judiciary hears bill to curb automatic adult charging for youth, sponsor urges cautious compromise
Summary
Sen. Will Smith presented SB323 to narrow offenses that automatically start youths in the adult system, citing Maryland's JJDPA noncompliance, racial disparities and public‑safety costs. Lawmakers pressed on retained exceptions for 14–15‑year‑olds and implementation impacts on juvenile services.
Sen. Will Smith returned to the House Judiciary Committee to present SB323, a bill that would curtail automatic adult charging for juveniles and shorten how often Maryland's cases fall out of compliance with the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. "We have more infractions than any other state in the union, over 1,600 last year," Smith said, arguing the change would save money and improve outcomes for youth.
The bill removes several offenses from the list that currently triggers automatic adult charges and preserves judicial waiver and…
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