Bill > H3079

This bill aims to promote transparency, best practices, and better outcomes for children and communities within the state justice system. The key provisions of this bill include: 1. Requiring state agencies to collect and report detailed statistical data on the treatment and interactions of juveniles in the justice system, including age, gender, race/ethnicity, and type of crime. This data will be published annually and provided to the Office of the Child Advocate. 2. Prohibiting the use of restraints on juveniles during court proceedings unless the presiding judge makes specific findings that they are necessary for safety or security reasons. 3. Prohibiting the placement of juveniles committed to the Department of Youth Services in involuntary room confinement as punishment. 4. Expanding the ability of juveniles to have their records sealed and expunged, and requiring the courts to inform juveniles of this right. 5. Establishing a Juvenile Justice Policy and Data Commission to evaluate policies, oversee data collection, and study the implementation of statutory changes to the juvenile justice system. 6. Establishing a rebuttable presumption that youth status is a mitigating factor in criminal sentencing, and requiring the provision of programming and accelerated good time credits for young offenders. Overall, this bill aims to increase transparency, promote rehabilitation and diversion over punishment, and ensure fair treatment of juveniles in the state's justice system.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H3079