Juvenile justice reform having positive impact, state says

Maryland's new juvenile justice reform law is having a positive impact on youth in trouble, according to state officials. On Thursday, representatives of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services briefed state lawmakers on changes made to the Juvenile Justice Reform Act and elaborated on its impact on the system. The data seems to conflict with what's happening on the street. However, police don't know who is responsible for a spike in fatal shootings involving teenagers. The sweeping legislation that took effect in June 2022 increases access to diversion programs, sets a minimum age for court jurisdiction and prohibits detention for misdemeanor cases.