We must make sure the legislative session doesn’t end without action on the Youth Charging Reform Act! Everyone benefits when kids accused of breaking the law start in the juvenile system – and a judge decides if they should be tried as an adult.

For the first time in 14 years, the Senate has passed a bill that addresses some automatic adult charges, prohibits kids from being held in adult jails after 2029, and requires annual reporting about implementation of the new law. The bill doesn’t represent everything we want, but it is significant progress, and we must make sure it passes this session. We need the House to pass the bill before time runs out.

In FY25, Maryland charged more than 1,000 youth as if they were adults. We are embarrassed and ashamed that Maryland continues to send more youth, ages 14-17, to adult court – automatically, without input from a judge – than any other state except Alabama. You should be, too.

FACT: Children as young as 14 can be automatically charged as an adult in Maryland.

FACT: Maryland has sent more kids to adult court than California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Arizona combined.

FACT: 16 and 17 year olds can be automatically charged as an adult for 33 offenses.

FACT: Over 77% of the youth charged in adult court in Maryland are Black.

FACT: 80% of the kids who are automatically charged as adults have their cases dismissed or sent to juvenile court after a judge reviews their case. This means hundreds of kids a year are put through adult court, and adult jail unnecessarily.

We can and must treat our children better. Tell your Delegate to pass the Youth Charging Reform Act, SB323/HB409 now. This bill helps us make meaningful progress on automatic charging of youth as adults.