Human Rights for Kids

We're excited to announce that Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove has introduced the Directly Impacted Child Rehab and Safety Act! This bill seeks to make the following changes consistent with human rights protections found in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:

-Establish a minimum age of 12 for prosecution in juvenile court;

-Raise the age to 16 for a child to be prosecuted in adult court;

-Prohibit children from being held in federal adult correctional facilities;

-Eliminate the felony murder rule for children so that a youth who does not kill or intend to kill someone during the commission of a felony does not face a life sentence; and

-Establish a grant block program to provide services and treatment to youth under 12 who engage in conduct that would constitute an offense, victims of commercial sexual exploitation, and youth subject to the jurisdiction of both the child welfare and juvenile court system.

We were proud to first work on this legislation with former Mayor Karen Bass when she was in Congress and are excited to continue this work alongside the leadership of Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove!

DJS NEWS 📰 Maryland has reached a significant milestone with the passage of SB 323, the Youth Charging Reform Act. This development reflects decades of work by policymakers, community members, advocates, and organizations focused on improving youth justice.

Over the past 14 years, multiple commissions and studies have highlighted the need for reform. SB 323 represents Maryland’s effort to align with national research and best practices while ensuring young people have access to the services and support that help them succeed.

“On this historic day, I pause to reflect on the people who worked to make this happen. Now is my favorite part, rolling up our sleeves and implementing the law. And I am committed to working with our partners and fellow stakeholders to ensure the children in our state are treated equally, fairly, and receive the services they need.” — Secretary Betsy Fox Tolentino