'We need to start completely over with juvenile justice,' MD lawmaker reacts recent youth crime

(WBFF) — The armed robbery Baltimore County Police say was committed by two juveniles in a Wal-Mart parking lot last week has reignited calls for juvenile justice reform.

“The State of Maryland. We continue to send the exact wrong message to youth offenders and violent offenders that we accept your behavior, we'll make excuses for it. That was the wrong message. It was wrong then. It's wrong now when we passed this juvenile justice reform. This is just another perfect example of that,” said MD Delegate Nino Mangione.

Mangione echoed the frustration voiced by people, police, and prosecutors.

“They know nothing is really going to happen to them if they keep their crime within a certain limit of types of crimes,” said Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger, in a previous interview.

Mangione believes the laws need to change and hold juvenile offenders more accountable, no matter their age.

ALSO READ | Baltimore City experiencing 166% rise in juvenile auto thefts this year, Mayor says

“We need to start completely over with juvenile justice. Do we want to throw a kid's entire life away for a minor infraction, no. But if they harm or assault another person there needs to be swift, serious repercussions. This should be our first priority in this upcoming session,” said Mangione.

Mangione says stricter laws need to be in place across the board and suggested penalties come with incentives.

“We can give incentives to earn credits towards reducing punishment,” said Mangione. For example, going to classes, learning, studying, counseling, or learning a skill. But there needs to be sent a clear message, i.e. - curfew. if you break it going back to a detention center ... I think it's extremely important that you pay restitution to victims.”

Mangione says he’ll be introducing a bill this upcoming session in January that specifically addresses the alarming spike in auto thefts.

“I have a bill that makes stealing an automobile a serious crime regardless of age,” said Mangione. “We’re in the process of pre-filing for the upcoming session in January, going over the language.”

BCPD said the two teens taken into custody for the robbery are 15 and 16.

Investigators haven’t said what charges, if any, they’re facing.

BCPD says responding officers recovered an air-soft gun used in the crime.