11 MOBILE APP. BALTIMORE CITY STATE’S ATTORNEY I CALLED OUT THE MAYOR TODAY ON THE C4 BRIAN NIEMAN RADIO PROGRAM. YEAH, HE SAID, WE NEED MORE SUPPORT FROM CITY HALL, BUT HE DECLINED TO ELABORATE. BATES ALSO REVEALED ON THE MORNING SHOW HE TESTED THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES AND WJZ FAILED. BATES SAYS, AFTER POLICE CAUGHT SEVEN, EIGHT AND TEN YEAR OLDS TRYING TO BREAK INTO A LIQUOR STORE. HE WANTED TO FIND OUT HOW WJZ HANDLED A CHILD IN NEED OF SUPERVISION. PETITION. THE INTAKE OFFICE IS SUPPOSED TO REVIEW THE COMPLAINT AND CONDUCT A MEETING WITH THE CHILD’S PARENT OR GUARDIAN, THEN THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO DISCUSS APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION AND SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM. I CAN TELL YOU, SINCE IN BALTIMORE CITY DOESN’T WORK, THEY DIDN’T HAVE A CLUE. THEY DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEY DENIED US. WE APPEALED. IT FINALLY GETS UP TO I THINK, THE DEPUTY NUMBER TWO DEPUTY WITH UH, SECRETARY SCHIRALDI. THEY THEN TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT’S GOING ON, BUT FINALLY, LUCKILY, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BECAUSE WE STAYED IN TACT, THEY WERE ABLE TO GIVE THE SERVICES TO THE FAMILY. THE MOTHER UNDERSTOOD ON WAS EXTREMELY APOLOGETIC AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM NOW, THE CITY STATE’S ATTORNEY’S TEST COMES AS NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE IN ANNAPOLIS OVER THE JUVENILE LAW REFORM BILL. WHAT HAPPENS TO A CHILD AFTER THEY ARE ARRESTED IS A STICKING POINT BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE. BATES ALSO WANTS CITY POLICE TO WRITE A REPORT EACH TIME A CHILD IS IN THEI
State's attorney troubled by juvenile justice system: 'No one knows what's going on'
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Updated: 6:12 PM EDT Mar 25, 2024
Maryland leaders continue to probe the juvenile justice system. Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates said he tested the system and found the results to be troubling. The test zeroed in on a major difference in the Juvenile Law Reform Act currently making its way through the state legislature.On New Year's Eve 2023 in Baltimore, soon after the fireworks grand finale and the crowds dispersed, Bates said police caught a seven, eight and ten-year-old trying to break into a liquor store. "I had my chief of staff put together a (Child In Need of Supervision) petition, and this sergeant put together this CINS petition. They go down there, no one knows what's going on, no one has a clue, and this is the leadership at (the Department of Juvenile Services)," Bates said.According to Bates, the intake office at DJS is supposed to review the complaint, conduct a meeting with the child and their parent or guardian, then discuss appropriate interventions and services to address the underlying problem. "I can tell you CINS in Baltimore City doesn't work," Bates said. "They didn't have a clue to what was going on. They denied us. We appealed. Finally, it gets to the second deputy with Secretary (Vincent) Schiraldi. They then try to figure out what's going on. Finally, then luckily, the school system, because we stayed in touch, they were able to give the services to the family."The test comes as negotiations continue in Annapolis over the Juvenile Law Reform Act. A sticking point: Do police file a CINS petition, or is the child placed in a diversion program after an offense?House Judiciary Committee Chair, Delegate Luke Clippinger, D-District 46, said he has concerns about CINS. "I feel like they have been applied inconsistently across the state," he said. "The Senate version requires a mandatory CINS petition for auto theft, and I am very strong on that point," Montgomery County Sen. Will Smith, D-District 20, said.Another issue concerns a lack of information about how many 10 to 12-year-olds are in the system. The Juvenile Law Reform Act requires police to fill out reports. In the meantime, Bates is asking police to step up. "It doesn't matter. Any or every child in your custody, any time DJS tells you to release them, we need to make sure we document that," he said.Bates said everyone needs to be held accountable, including youth, DJS and police, as well as his office. In the first three months of 2024, he said his office has seen 351 juvenile gun cases.
BALTIMORE — Maryland leaders continue to probe the juvenile justice system.
Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates said he tested the system and found the results to be troubling. The test zeroed in on a major difference in the Juvenile Law Reform Act currently making its way through the state legislature.
On New Year's Eve 2023 in Baltimore, soon after the fireworks grand finale and the crowds dispersed, Bates said police caught a seven, eight and ten-year-old trying to break into a liquor store.
"I had my chief of staff put together a (Child In Need of Supervision) petition, and this sergeant put together this CINS petition. They go down there, no one knows what's going on, no one has a clue, and this is the leadership at (the Department of Juvenile Services)," Bates said.
According to Bates, the intake office at DJS is supposed to review the complaint, conduct a meeting with the child and their parent or guardian, then discuss appropriate interventions and services to address the underlying problem.
"I can tell you CINS in Baltimore City doesn't work," Bates said. "They didn't have a clue to what was going on. They denied us. We appealed. Finally, it gets to the second deputy with Secretary (Vincent) Schiraldi. They then try to figure out what's going on. Finally, then luckily, the school system, because we stayed in touch, they were able to give the services to the family."
The test comes as negotiations continue in Annapolis over the Juvenile Law Reform Act. A sticking point: Do police file a CINS petition, or is the child placed in a diversion program after an offense?
House Judiciary Committee Chair, Delegate Luke Clippinger, D-District 46, said he has concerns about CINS.
"I feel like they have been applied inconsistently across the state," he said.
"The Senate version requires a mandatory CINS petition for auto theft, and I am very strong on that point," Montgomery County Sen. Will Smith, D-District 20, said.
Another issue concerns a lack of information about how many 10 to 12-year-olds are in the system. The Juvenile Law Reform Act requires police to fill out reports. In the meantime, Bates is asking police to step up.
"It doesn't matter. Any or every child in your custody, any time DJS tells you to release them, we need to make sure we document that," he said.
Bates said everyone needs to be held accountable, including youth, DJS and police, as well as his office. In the first three months of 2024, he said his office has seen 351 juvenile gun cases.
