YOUTH JUSTICE
The world only exists because of the breath of schoolchildren.
— Shabbat 119b
Every child deserves to live a life with dignity, respect, and safety. For too long some elected officials here in Maryland think that they can score political points by allying with wealthy conservatives, prosecutors, and right-wing media to treat Black and brown kids as criminals and perpetuate a system of mass incarceration.
Jewish tradition teaches that children breathe life into the universe. To rob children of their adolescence through incarceration sucks air out of the world, not only for those children and their families, but for all of us. JUFJ and our coalition partners have come together in the past to transform our state’s criminal legal system so that children are given the resources to learn, heal, and develop into upstanding citizens, rather than be discarded and punished.
This year, we came together again to protect what we have won in the past and to push the General Assembly to finally advance legislation that will keep kids out of adult courts and facilities and build towards a future where every child — no matter their race, what neighborhood they live in, or their family wealth — has the freedom and support to mature and flourish. After more than a decade, we successfully pushed for the passage of the Youth Charging Reform Act, which will keep hundreds of kids out of the adult carceral system. While this legislation is a major step forward, it does not end the harmful practice of automatically charging kids as adults entirely. We will continue organizing alongside our partners for the full end to this practice.
For questions about this work or to get involved, please contact our lead Maryland organizer on Youth Justice, Brooke.
Jews United for Justice (JUFJ) works in coalition and partnership with grassroots and advocacy groups to build and win issue campaigns. Our approach is based on our commitment to racial equity and dismantling systems of oppression, which includes centering the leadership of our most directly impacted partners and being as transparent as possible about our agenda selection process. When we select campaigns, we keep in mind our goals of organizing and mobilizing our base, strengthening coalitions we are part of, and shifting the balance of power in our local communities. This year we have three full scope of work campaigns and we will engage in other campaigns in a more limited way.
- For more information about our other full scope of work campaigns, click here.
- For more information about our agenda setting process for the Maryland 2026 state legislative session, click here.
- For more information about our limited campaigns, click here.
2024 Legislative Details
Key Partners:
- Maryland Youth Justice Coalition, including: ACLU, Advance Maryland, BRIDGE Maryland, Maryland Office of the Public Defender, Out for Justice, and The Sentencing Project
Legislative Details:
Oppose: Juvenile Law – Reform (HB814/SB744)
- While HB814 was introduced amid promises of increased support and services to help kids make better choices, achieve better outcomes, and increase public safety, the details of the legislation focus almost exclusively on expanding the net of incarceration—which is known to put kids at heightened risk of personal, sexual, and emotional harm and, according to 20 years of research and experience, results in more recidivism and crime, not less. This legislation will roll back elements of the progress made with the JJRA, are out of step with what data shows are effective juvenile justice policies, and would lead to thousands more children being incarcerated each year.
Oppose: Juvenile Justice Restoration Act of 2024 (HB319/SB52)
- In 2022, we and our partners helped pass the Child Interrogation Protection Act over the Governor’s veto. But prosecutors have been trying to make us fear children so they can overturn this critical protection for young people in our state. We can’t let that happen. We are therefore opposing The Juvenile Justice Restoration Act (HB319 / SB52), which would roll back CIPA entirely and roll back progress from the Juvenile Justice Restoration Act we worked to pass with partners.
Oppose: Juvenile Law – Custodial Interrogation – Parental Consultation (SB120)
- No child should be interrogated without being able to consult a lawyer. But the Juvenile Law – Custodial Interrogation would authorize a child to consult with their parents, guardians, or custodians instead of an attorney before being interrogated by law enforcement. That is insufficient.
Key Committees:
- Senate Judicial Proceedings (JPR), Chair: Will Smith (Montgomery County)
- House Judiciary (JUD), Chair: Luke Clippinger (Baltimore City)
