Like most communities, Greenbelt works toward identifying the issue of youth delinquencies and finding solutions. Here are some thoughts from an activist, our police chief and state legislator as interviewed by the reporter.
Greenbelt resident and activist LaWann Stribling suggests that adults have often failed to comprehend the needs of youth. Today’s youth, she believes, see murder, theft and corruption rewarded at the highest levels in America. They don’t hear about community services, job training and environmental cleanup on the news. Youth and their parents need hope that there can be a better way to live.
Greenbelt’s Chief of Police Richard Bowers believes that emphasis has to be placed on the community environment where children live and especially the home environment. He thinks that parents need to be held more accountable for juvenile behavior. The increasing number of carjackings post-pandemic by 13- to 16-year-olds leads to speculation that there is either an organized car theft ring or that someone is paying youths to bring certain types of cars in order to obtain specific parts.
Bowers worries that not being able to interrogate youth about these issues is preventing the police from breaking up carjacking rings. He is concerned that a nonviolent youth offender can be arrested in the morning, released to their parents and rearrested again that same evening.
According to Delegate Nicole Williams, who serves as chair of the Public Safety Committee, the Maryland Juvenile Justice Reform Bill of 2021, the Interrogation Protection Act of 2022 and the Child Safe Harbor ‒ Abuse-Trafficking Act of 2023 are three acts designed to protect juveniles from being exploited or over-policed. The Maryland Juvenile Justice Reform Bill enables teenagers given life sentences to apply for release. The Interrogation Protection Act prevents juveniles from being interrogated without a parent or lawyer present. Williams told the News Review that, without a lawyer, a child cannot be interrogated and must be released to the parent. If there is enough evidence of probable cause the child can be arrested, but still cannot be questioned. However, youths arrested with guns face adult charges and can be held without bail. The Child Safe Harbor ‒ Abuse-Trafficking Act helps prevent sexual exploitation or the trafficking of minors.
Williams believes some modification is needed in the gang statute to deal with one-off situations, like carjacking. Due to the current shortage in car parts some chop-shop owners are believed to be paying youth in cash, clothes or sneakers in exchange for them stealing certain types of vehicles. This particular statute needs to reflect that new reality, says Williams.
One part of a solution might be to modify truancy statutes in education law to help reduce juvenile delinquency and to work with whole families, Williams says. In order to hold a parent accountable, prosecutors have to prove that the parent knows about their child’s criminal activity. However, under truancy laws, it may be possible to hold parents more accountable for the child’s absences from school, while also providing appropriate supports for the entire family. Williams also says more funds are needed for violence interrupters who work in the streets to deter youth crimes.