Bill to End Automatic Adult Charging for Some Maryland Youths

State lawmakers gave SB 323, the Youth Charging Reform Act, its first Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing on Feb. 4, 2026. Sponsored by Sen. William C. "Will" Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery County, District 20), the bill would eliminate automatic adult charging for many young people - explicitly removing automatic adult charging for children ages 14 and 15 and narrowing the list of offenses that automatically send 16- and 17-year-olds into adult court. Under current law 33 offenses trigger automatic adult charging for 16- and 17-year-olds; the bill would repeal 11 of those offenses and return many decisions to judges.

The proposal would preserve automatic adult charging for the most serious crimes, such as first-degree murder and rape for youths 14 and older under current statute, while giving judges discretion to evaluate the facts of individual cases for many other charges. Sen. Smith told the committee: "Instead, you are going to have a judge review and evaluate the facts of the case on an individual basis and make a determination on the right trajectory for that case." Supporters argue that judicial review can prioritize rehabilitation and reduce recidivism by keeping more young people in age-appropriate juvenile programming.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown testified in support, saying: "We support the bill, prioritizing rehabilitation over punishment." Juvenile justice advocates, the Sentencing Project and the acting Juvenile Services secretary also backed the measure at the hearing, citing studies and commission work that found automatic adult transfer can hinder rehabilitation and disproportionately affect youth of color. A state Juvenile Justice Commission workgroup recommended replacing automatic charging with a juvenile-court-first system and found Maryland out of step with federal juvenile justice guidelines.

Opponents included the Maryland State's Attorneys' Association and the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association, which gave passionate testimony opposing the bill. Some law enforcement speakers characterized the legislation as "idealistic, unrealistic and a potential threat to public safety." Committee witnesses debated how to balance community safety with rehabilitative goals for youth.

The bill’s supporters told lawmakers many cases currently sent automatically to adult court are later returned to juvenile court or dismissed, a practice they say wastes judicial resources and undermines long-term outcomes. The proposal cites examples such as robbery, assault and firearm possession among the offenses that could move from mandatory adult charging to judge-led review; advocates say the change would align Maryland with national practices that limit automatic adult transfer for adolescents.

Procedurally, SB 323 now awaits further committee action and potential votes in both chambers as supporters push for approval before the close of the legislative session. WBALTV reported the bill would also include eligibility limits, noting "A child previously convicted of a felony charged as an adult would not be eligible" for certain provisions, a point committee members sought to clarify.

For Baltimore, where juvenile court outcomes and community safety are closely watched, the bill could reduce the number of adolescents routed into adult court and shift resources toward rehabilitation and reentry services. Watch for committee votes and follow-up testimony from Sen. William C. Smith Jr., Delegate J. Sandy Bartlett and the Department of Juvenile Services as the General Assembly moves the measure forward.