Suspension from school should no longer be regarded as a probation violation for juvenile offenders because it cedes a judicial function to the discretion of school administrators whose vague standards of behavior warranting suspension are often imposed disproportionately on Black ...

Tagged with: implicit bias juvenile justice probation violation school suspension

Maryland’s top court opened its 2021-2022 session Wednesday, a term in which it will take up the appeal of a Beltway sniper in considering whether the state constitution permits violent juvenile offenders ever to be sentenced to life without parole. ...

Tagged with: Beltway sniper juvenile justice Larry Hogan Mary Ellen Barbera maryland constitution robert n. mcdonald

Appeals court affirms felony murder conviction and life sentence of Baltimore teen who accelerated a stolen Jeep, killing an officer who had told him to stop.

Tagged with: amy caprio Dawnta Harris felony murder juvenile justice life with parole

Top court says public safety does not outweigh accused young offender’s amenability to rehabilitation in deciding if he or she should be tried as adult.

Tagged with: juvenile justice recidivism rehabilitation

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Thursday vetoed a measure that would prohibit juveniles convicted of rape or murder from being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The Senate and House of Delegates are expected to vote ...

Tagged with: juvenile justice Larry Hogan life without parole Miller v. Alabama

The Maryland Senate passed legislation Thursday night that would prohibit juveniles convicted of rape and murder from being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Senate Bill 494 would permit juveniles given lifetime sentences to become eligible ...

Tagged with: juvenile justice life sentences Miller v. Alabama

The Maryland Senate gave preliminary approval Wednesday to legislation that would prohibit murderers and rapists from being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole if they were juveniles when they killed or raped. The Senate could vote ...

Tagged with: juvenile justice life sentences Miller v. Alabama

A pandemic-fueled economic freefall and nationwide protests calling for criminal justice reform have spurred Maryland legislators to examine ways to enhance legal representation for low-income residents facing eviction and to protect the rights of imprisoned or criminally charged youngsters this ...

Tagged with: eviction felony murder juvenile justice landlord tenant Maryland General Assembly Right to counsel

In an effort to protect the state’s juvenile jail population from the COVID-19 virus, Maryland’s top jurist told the state’s judges Monday to release those youngsters in detention or commitment whose release would not pose a danger to themselves or others and who have a home or other facility to go to serve their sentence, among other factors.

Tagged with: COVID-19 juvenile justice maryland courts covid-19

Current and former prosecutors, police and youth justice agents from outside Maryland came out this week in support of the state public defender’s call for judges to release all detained and incarcerated juveniles who do not pose an immediate threat ...

Tagged with: COVID-19 juvenile justice maryland courts covid-19 paul b. dewolfe