BALTIMORE, MD (WBFF) — With the disturbing new data from the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s office revealing the drastic 208% increase in juvenile crime, many city officials are looking for answers.
“We’re seeing more and more violent crimes from kids at a younger and younger age,” said Deputy State’s Attorney Catharine Rosenblatt, “It’s disheartening. I guess we have to work harder.”
Political Commentator Armstrong Williams joined us on the show this morning to discuss this alarming increase in juvenile crimes and to offer his understanding on why these numbers are so high.
Williams went on to emphasize that one of the main reasons these rates are so high is because children aren’t being prosecuted. Instead, the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) will place the child into a rehabilitation program, which in essence, puts the child “back on the streets”.
“Many of these kids, where you’re talking about car thefts, crime, carjacking, are not even being prosecuted because DJS has another plan for them,” said Williams. “That is the real issue”.
Williams wants to assure people that hope for change will arrive in November. That’s when Maryland’s new juvenile justice reform law is scheduled to take effect, which will expand the charges those under the age of 13 can face to include sex offenses, gun violations, and cases of animal cruelty.
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