BALTIMORE (WBFF) — As November comes to a close, it’s still a little too early to see a marked differences in the levels of juvenile crime since the new laws took effect at the beginning of the month, according to the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, but there are still concerns about robberies and carjackings.
Lawmakers spent much of the last 90-day legislative session debating juvenile crime plans and Gov. Wes Moore ultimately signed the compromise plan into law. As of Nov. 1, kids in Maryland between the ages of 10 and 12 years old can now face charges for handgun violations, third-degree sex offenses, and aggravated animal abuse. If a kid under 13 years old steals a car for the first time, a child in need of supervision petition must be filed. The new law also extends probation length for juvenile offenders, and requires the state’s attorney’s offices to be involved sooner in the decision making process for charges.
“Certainly, leading up to the Nov. 1 date, DJS has been very cooperative in incorporating us in the training that they have done in order to ensure that their staff follows the policies that are laid out in the legislation,” explained Angela Galeano, chief of staff for the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office…