Stephanie Holden 0

​A PETITION TO REFORM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN MARYLAND

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BACKGROUND

Juveniles being charged as adults has been a growing issue for several decades. While the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Act of 1974 sought to separate juvenile delinquents from adult inmates, states made laws regarding sentencing and jurisdiction that made it possible for juveniles to be charged as adults.

Due to these laws being created, prisons have remained full and run off the labor of juveniles who receive life sentences, most of whom are youth of color who receive these sentences at higher rates than white juveniles. In 2021, The Sentencing Project reported that 53,000 juveniles were charged as adults in 2019.

While there are reports that the number of juveniles being charged as adults is on the decline, there is a lot of work that needs to be done to reform the juvenile justice system.

PROPOSED REFORM

One way to begin to reform the juvenile justice system in Maryland is to pass House Bill 96, as introduced during the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session.

Under this proposal, the circuit court will be able to lessen the number of cases they hear pertaining to juveniles being charged as adults. This will result in less punitive outcomes for all youth charged as adults as the bill specifies. The bill will also work to address the disparities that show that youth of color are overrepresented in the group of individuals being charged as adults.

YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED - NOW

We are asking you to help support reasonable reform that gives our young people a chance with an approach is more restorative than punitive.

By signing this petition, you will be adding your voice with many others who believe that it is time to make changes to oppressive systems like the juvenile justice system. Together, we will be urging our elected officials to take action to make these changes ASAP.

Please sign this petition which will be sent to your local representatives to encourage them to vote in favor of the proposal made in HB96 during the upcoming 2024 legislative session. If you are not a resident of Maryland, please sign to show your solidarity with those looking to reform the juvenile justice system.

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