Bill to end automatic charging of children as adults splits advocates, prosecutors

Legislation to repeal Maryland’s law requiring youthful offenders accused of heinous crimes to be automatically charged as adults drew support Thursday from youth advocates but scorn from prosecutors and a victims’ rights attorney. “It is truly the right policy for Maryland moving forward,” Sen. Jill P. Carter, D-Baltimore City and the bill’s chief sponsor, told the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on which she sits. “All this bill does is treat children in the criminal justice system the same way we treat them in other areas of the law.”