CAMBRIDGE - The Cambridge Police Department has released detailed information on juvenile crime over the previous three years.  The full report is found below,.

The report, with associated graphics, can also be found at choosecambridge.com/DocumentCenter.

This report contains information on Juvenile arrests and crime trends as reported to the Cambridge Police Department over the course of the past three years, (January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023). The report is not all inclusive but does convey an adequate snapshot of the current state of juvenile arrests and detainments within the city of Cambridge for the target time period.

The report contains data including:

 Number of Juvenile arrests by year 

 Number of Juvenile arrests by type of arrest

 Types of criminal offenses committed by Juvenile Offenders 

 Updated information on Homicides, and gun violence

 Updated information on weapon seizures involving juvenile offenders.

 Updated information on vehicle thefts by juvenile suspects

 Updated information on assaults involving juvenile offenders.

 Brief overview of changes to state law that are effecting changes in juvenile crime trends.

Juvenile arrests are usually handled in one of several ways:

 A juvenile referral- A report of an incident is forwarded to juvenile Services for disposition, this may or may not include a physical arrest. 

 On-View arrest- The juvenile is physically arrested and transported to CPD for processing 

 Warrant arrest- A Writ is issued by the court for the arrest of the juvenile (this usually involves a violation of a condition of probation). The Juvenile is transported to CPD and typically turned over to Juvenile Services for adjudication. 

 Temporary Detained-The juvenile is detained until a parent or guardian can pick up the child (i.e.

runaways, missing, etc.) typically, there are no criminal charges filed.

 Held for another agency- The juvenile is detained pending transfer to the custody of another agency (other Police, Social Services, Emergency petitions) typically, there are no criminal charges filed.

Due to changes in Maryland Law that became effective on October 1, 2022, most juveniles are released to a parent or guardian, unless they are arrested pursuant to a warrant or writ being issued by the court, or for a violation involving a firearm or a crime of violence.

 In 2023, only 4% of juvenile criminal arrestees were detained by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, the remaining 96% were released to a parent or guardian. 

2021

In 2021 there were a total of 127 juvenile arrests made by officers of CPD, these arrests represent a combination of On-view physical arrests,  juvenile refferels, and warrants issued by the court.

The majority of the charges against juveniles in 2021 were for assaults, followed by retail thefts.

2021 Case Highlights

 2 Juveniles were arrested for homicide in 2021

 2 Juveniles were arrested for possession of handguns in 2021

 4 Juveniles were arrested for drug possession in 2021

Juvenile Offense Types 2021

2022

In 2022 there were a total of 170 juvenile arrests made by officers of CPD, these arrests represent a combination of On-view physical arrests, juvenile referrals, and warrants issued by the court.

The majority of the charges against juveniles in 2022 were for assaults, followed by retail thefts.

2022 Case Highlights

 Three juveniles were arrested for handgun possession in 2022

 One juvenile was arrested for attempted murder in 2022

 Five juveniles were arrested for drug possession in 2022

In 2023 there were a total of 177 juvenile arrests made by officers of CPD, these arrests represent a combination of On-view physical arrests, juvenile referrals, and warrants issued by the court.

The majority of the charges against juveniles in 2023 were for assaults, followed by retail thefts.

2023 Case Highlights

 Two juveniles were arrested for handgun possession in 2023

 Four juveniles were arrested for drug possession in 2023

We have seen a dramatic increase in stolen vehicles over the past three years most of these offenses are being committed by juveniles and since the changes in the law these juveniles are not being held accountable.

For example, in 2022 just prior to the change in the “Juvenile Justice reform act” the Cambridge Police Department responded to 28 reports of stolen vehicles in all of 2022 approximately 13 of these cases involved juvenile offenders.

In all of 2023, 102 vehicles were reported as stolen to CPD, juvenile offenders are caught and charged, but are immediately released due to the changes in the law. Motor vehicle theft is not a “crime of violence” and does not qualify for the detention of a juvenile.

Through investigation and statistical analysis, we have determined that the overwhelming suspect profiles for these crimes are male juveniles under the age of 16, but we have detained suspects as young as 11 for stealing vehicles in Cambridge.  

❖ One 12-year-old has been arrested 11 times for motor vehicle theft in the past three years

 Motor vehicle thefts have increased 264% since last year and 580% since 2021.

 Motor vehicle thefts involving juvenile suspects have increased 238% since 2022 and 610% since 2021.

 The majority of vehicles stolen are manufactured by Hyundai.

 CPD has purchased and distributed to citizens anti-theft products for their vehicles.

Crime Trends 2021-2023

Assaults

In 2023, there was a rise in the number of assaults committed by juvenile offenders, in cases where the offender is under 13, the change in the law exempts the juvenile offender from criminal charges, as second-degree assault is no longer a “crime of violence”.

Of the 396 Assaults reported to Cambridge Police over the past year, 82 have been committed by offenders under the age of 18. 

CINS Child in Need of Supervision

A Child In Need of Supervision (CINS) is a child who needs guidance, treatment, or rehabilitation, and falls under one of these categories:

• Must legally go to school, but routinely does not.
• Regularly cannot be controlled by the child’s parents, guardians, or custodians,
• Acts in a way that is dangerous to self or others, or
• Has committed an offense applicable only to children (like truancy, run-away, curfew violation, or alcohol violation.).

A Child In Need of Supervision is not the same as a delinquent child. A “delinquent child” is a child who has committed a delinquent act and requires guidance, treatment, or rehabilitation. A "delinquent act" means an act which would be a crime if committed by an adult.

If the officer files a petition, the court will schedule a hearing to determine whether:

1. the child needs formal supervision by DJS,
2. the child needs informal supervision by the DJS for a limited time (called “informal adjustment”), or
3. No action is necessary.

               In September of 2023, the Cambridge Police Department began an initiative to ensure that children who fell into the category of a CINS were receiving all necessary support from the criminal justice system as well as the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJS). The initiate involves a CPD officer filing a petition on a child who has been identified by the Dorchester County Board of Education as being a candidate who would benefit from participation in the CINS process.

               To date, CPD has filed a total of ten petitions with the court in CINS cases with one disposition already being issued by the court, the remaining cases are pending.   

In April of 2022 Maryland Senate Bill 691 was passed. This bill contained sweeping reforms to Maryland's juvenile justice system. Many of these changes impact the eligibility of children for juvenile court action and changed limits on the length of the terms of juvenile probation, most of these changes took effect on October 1, 2022.

One of the key changes to Maryland juvenile laws is the new minimum age for juvenile action. Under the new Maryland juvenile laws, no child under the age of 10 can be charged with any criminal offense, no matter what the offense is, this includes Homicide, Rape, Armed Robbery, etc. 

Children under 13 can only be charged with offenses that would constitute a "crime of violence" under Maryland law.

                                               What is a crime of violence under Maryland Law?

*Second Degree Assault is no longer considered to be a “crime of violence” under Maryland Law, if a child under 13 assaults a schoolteacher or a police officer in the second degree this would not qualify as a “crime of violence” and therefore would not be an arrestable offense.

This means that children under the age of 13 cannot be charged with any non-violent misdemeanor offenses, some of these offenses include motor vehicle theft, firearm possession, assaults in the second degree, some sex offenses, or drug possession in any amount.

Juveniles charged as adults:

The law before October 1, 2022, stated that any child who is age 14 or older, could be charged as an adult if certain criteria were met, these criteria were:

• a child at least 16 years old alleged to have violated certain traffic or boating laws (where a fatality was involved)
• a child at least 16 years old alleged to have committed certain violent crimes (armed robbery, 1^st degree assault, Rape, etc.)
• a child at least 14 years old alleged to have done an act which, if committed by an adult, would be a crime punishable by death or life imprisonment, and
• a child who has previously been convicted as an adult of a felony and subsequently alleged to have committed an act that would be a felony if committed by an adult.

The new law allows only:

14 years and older crime must be:

• First Degree Murder (not any other degree)
• First Degree Rape First Degree Sex Offense

16 years and older crime must be:

• Abduction
• Kidnapping
• Second degree murder
• Armed Robbery
• Manslaughter
• Certain Weapon Offenses (not all)

The Department of Juvenile Services Responsibilities  

The Department of Juvenile Services screens juvenile cases, collecting information, and provides services to youth involved in the justice system. The new laws will allow the Department of Juvenile Services to impose an “informal adjustment” in felony cases, a right which they did not have in the past.  

Juvenile Intake officers may also use informal adjustments without the consent of a victim, but only after they have made reasonable efforts to contact the victim. (The law does not specify what these reasonable efforts are)

What is an informal adjustment?

An informal adjustment is an administrative punishment for a delinquent act, where a juvenile is assigned to complete certain programs or be involved in community-based services in exchange for keeping delinquent acts outside of the juvenile court.  

In the past this was only an option for an allegation of a delinquent act that would be a misdemeanor if committed by an adult. Now these informal adjustments can also be applied to cases involving certain nonviolent felonies and do not require the approval of the juvenile court.

Juvenile Petitions may be returned to intake upon consent of the State, a juvenile, and the Department ofJuvenile Services

A new mechanism, called a return to intake, has been created. This will allow certain juvenile cases to avoid prosecution if all the parties agree upon a return to intake. There will be a pre-court supervision agreement along with Department monitoring of the terms of any return to intake agreement. This process will involve assessment and the implementation of services. This is different from a STET, because the matter will be completely outside of the Court process.

Juvenile Detention

There are additional changes to detaining youth charged with misdemeanors. These include a new prohibition on detaining children charged with misdemeanors for any offenses other than firearm possession. 

This change states that unless the child was adjudicated delinquent twice in the last twelve months, he/she cannot be detained. (This change does not apply to firearm possession)

Juvenile Probation Changes

Juvenile Probations have been significantly shortened. If the most serious offense that a juvenile has been adjudicated to is a misdemeanor, the maximum initial length of probation would be up to six (6) months. This probation could be extended by three (3) month terms if there is good cause to do so, and the purpose for the extension is to complete rehabilitative programming. The maximum length of a juvenile probation for a misdemeanor is now one (1) year.

Juvenile Felony Probation changes

Felony juvenile probation will now have a maximum initial length of one-year, Additional three-month extensions can be sought but the standard maximum length of a juvenile probation for a felony is no more than (2) years.

Juvenile Probation violation changes

Juvenile probation laws have redefined their definition of probation violations, and a child cannot be placed in a detention facility for a technical violation. Technical violations are all violations except those involving:

• an arrest or a summons
• A violation of criminal prohibition
• A violation of no-contact / stay away orders.
• Absconding

Changes to juvenile placements

Juvenile respondents aren't given jail sentences, instead they are placed in rehabilitative placements. These are often schools or similar facilities that restrict the movement of children whom they board, feed, educate, and provide therapy to. Now the Court may not commit a child to the Department of Juvenile Services for an outof-home placement for a misdemeanor unless the charge is a handgun violation.

Child Interrogation Protection Act Maryland HB0269

Effective October 1, 2022, the law requires a police officer who takes a juvenile into custody, interrogates a juvenile, or charges a juvenile with a criminal violation to provide reasonable notice to the child's parents, guardian, or custodian of the juvenile.

This notice will include the juvenile's location, the reason for the custody action, and instructions on how to make in-person contact, prohibiting the interrogation of a juvenile by a law enforcement officer until the juvenile has consulted with an attorney.  

The police officer must get permission from an attorney before any interrogation of a juvenile (under 18).  

• A parent or guardian can’t grant consent to speak to the juvenile, it must be an attorney. This requirement can’t be waived by the child or their parents or guardian.
• The law applies even if the child is being charged as an adult for a serious offense (murder, rape, etc.)
• There are exceptions for emergency situations where there is a significant threat to public safety, but these exceptions are not clearly defined in the law.
• The law does not apply to traffic stops of juveniles unless during the stop the officer develops probable cause for a criminal arrest of a juvenile.