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Baltimore Leaders Detail Tougher Juvenile Monitoring as Residents Call for Earlier Intervention

The Southeast Baltimore town hall highlighted DJS’s overnight checks of youths on electronic monitoring.

Overview

  • Acting DJS Secretary Betsy Fox Tolentino said a July policy requires youths arrested while on electronic monitoring to be detained and brought to court the next day.
  • DJS is conducting active GPS scans at 11 p.m., 1:30 a.m., and 4:30 a.m., with community detention staff monitoring youths at home around the clock and reporting violations to courts within 24 hours.
  • Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates and Juvenile Division Chief Pamela Chung urged swift court responses to violations and pressed for parents to report breaches of release terms.
  • Tolentino said DJS has steered $7 million into Baltimore, is redirecting staff to shore up residential facilities, and aims to improve placements and referrals to diversion programs.
  • Residents voiced fear about repeat offenders and asked for earlier support services, while legislative leaders were absent as a possible probation-violation detention measure remains under review.