Commentary

In Maryland, we find ourselves at a crucial crossroads where we must balance accountability and responsibility to reform the juvenile justice system — all within the 90-day timeframe set for the state’s 2024 legislative session. In pursuing a just and equitable legal system as state’s attorneys in Baltimore City and Prince George’s County, our legislative agenda focuses on necessary changes to existing juvenile laws, and innovative measures that reflect our commitment to progress and prioritizing victims’ rights.

Growing up in the Los Angeles area, the coastal allure was an integral part of my childhood. Then adulthood led me to Maryland, and my new coastal haven is along the Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, the region faces an imminent threat: devastation from flooding and climate change that can destroy native habitats and wildlife and displace families. By now, it is well known and documented that, as polar ice melts due to increased air temperatures, the sea level rises.

There’s been a lot of talk recently about crime committed by juveniles in Maryland, especially in Baltimore City. But what we haven’t heard as much about is the violent crime young people experience, and how the two are connected. Last year, 44 people under the age of 20 — most of them teenagers; at least one a toddler — were killed in the city; 151 more were shot and, thankfully, survived. It was the most dangerous year for young people here in at least a dozen years.

During this General Assembly session, a pivotal topic that warrants our collective attention is the significance of the 988 and 211 dialing codes. These numbers are more than just digits; they represent a lifeline, connecting Marylanders to crucial services in times of crisis. To meet the community’s growing needs, we need integrated and sustainable financial support. 988 and 211 are imperative for the well-being of our community.

The Supreme Court isn’t going to tolerate individual states choosing to kick Donald Trump off their ballots on the grounds that he engaged in insurrection. It’s not precisely clear what off-ramp, or ramps, the justices will choose to take to come to this conclusion. But the court’s destination is unmistakable: States, butt out.

In the final 20 minutes of Monday night’s Anne Arundel County Council meeting, a Democrat and three Republicans pushed through a change that might be tough for a casual observer to care about. Council Administrative Officer Laura Corby understood. She wiped away tears as the council inexorably moved toward a 4-3 vote on Resolution 4-24, telegraphed by the number of sponsors.

Individually, we adore and pamper our children. We shuttle them from soccer practice to music lessons and then organize their play dates with meticulous fanaticism. Yet collectively, we mistreat America’s children, especially by the standards of other wealthy countries. When we’re formulating policies for children as a whole rather than coddling our own little angels, we fall scandalously short. We prize children in the abstract but as a society tend to ignore their needs.