Bates to Moore: Revise juvenile crime policy

Baltimore state’s attorney puts focus on parental role after carjacking spree case

As Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates announced charges Wednesday against juveniles involved in a carjacking and robbery spree last fall, he also cited the need to hold parents criminally and financially accountable in cases where parents know of their child’s crimes.

Baltimore prosecutors accused 20 young people of a series of armed carjackings and robberies throughout the city in October and

November. The young people worked in groups of two to eight to commit the crimes, Bates said in the news conference Wednesday.

Now, the group faces more than 100 charges tied to 53 incidents. No adults have been charged in connection with this case because there needs to be evidence that the adults were aware of what was taking place and understood their responsibilities and obligations, Bates said in news conference.

To further hold parents accountable, Bates said he wants to revise the police department’s and the state’s catch-and-release policy, under which juveniles are released to their parents after an arrest.

Bates has asked Gov. Wes Moore to revise this policy and require officers to speak to parents of the detained juveniles and analyze what can be done to prevent more delinquency. This could provide evidence that parents understood their responsibilities and obligations, Bates said.

“We must start addressing the offenders in this age group with services and support, not simply sending them back home to repeat their actions over and over again, which has been the status quo of the system that has been failing them for so long,” Bates said in Wednesday’s news conference. “Let’s move from catch-and-release to catchand-assess.”

Also, if parents are found to have contributed to the delinquency of a minor, they can be charged with a criminal offense possibly carrying a three-year jail sentence and a maximum $2,500 fine, Bates said.

Along with a catch-andassess policy, the State’s Attorney’s Office would seek full restitution from the parent or guardian of a minor who committed a carjacking, Bates said.

“Under current law, parents are responsible for ensuring their children’s court-ordered restitution is paid,” Sen. Jill P. Carter, a Baltimore Democrat, said in an emailed statement. “Courts also have the power to issue orders controlling the conduct of parents.”

She said the Department of Juvenile Services already assesses every child brought to it by law enforcement.

Bates said during the news conference that his office has had conversations with Juvenile Services Secretary Vincent Schiraldi about what that agency can do to help hold parents accountable.

“The current reality of juvenile intake is that youth who are committing criminal offenses, including auto theft and carjacking, are being released into the community almost immediately before being adequately evaluated for necessary services and rehabilitative resources,” the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office said in an emailed statement Friday. “Commonsense changes like these can help improve youth recidivism, which has led to many frustrations among city residents.”