Baltimore leaders express frustration over repeat juvenile offenders: "Raises serious public safety concerns"
Baltimore City leaders shared their frustration after a 14-year-old boy, a repeat offender, was arrested and released this week.
Police arrested the teen on Kirk Avenue on Tuesday for a "failure to appear" in connection with a 2025 robbery. Officers took him to the Juvenile Justice Center, but a judge later released him on electronic monitoring.
Baltimore Police said the boy is well-known to police. They said he had 10 previous arrests. They include failure to appear, theft, robbery, and assault.
The state's Department of Juvenile Services told CBS News Baltimore that it can't comment on specific cases or individual children, but "each juvenile case is handled uniquely in every instance."
"In cases where law enforcement requests detention, DJS makes an initial detention decision using the Detention Risk Assessment Instrument, an independently validated risk assessment instrument, and the court makes the final decision to either detain or return them to the community," a DJS spokesperson said.
Baltimore officials weigh in
Baltimore City officials said this highlights an ongoing cycle in Baltimore.
"Our officers have repeatedly apprehended this individual and have been in communication with the Department of Juvenile Services and our law enforcement partners regarding his behavior, which includes a significant history of violent and property-related offenses," said Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley. "While we respect the judicial process, releasing individuals with this level of repeated criminal behavior raises serious public safety concerns for past victims and the broader community."
"Our approach to public safety includes proactive outreach to dissuade wrongdoing, but it also requires accountability if young people choose not to change and continue harming others," Mayor Brandon Scott said. "This case underscores yet again the need for an entirely new approach to young people involved in the justice system."
"In this case, our office presented the facts and strongly recommended that the juvenile respondent be detained based on the pattern and seriousness of the alleged offenses, and DJS still sought to have the juvenile released without regard for public safety," said State's Attorney Ivan J. Bates.
Due to confidentiality laws, the Department of Juvenile Services is unable to comment directly on specific cases or individual children. Each juvenile case is handled uniquely in every instance. In cases where law enforcement requests detention, DJS makes an initial detention decision using the Detention Risk Assessment Instrument, an independently validated risk assessment instrument, and the court makes the final decision to either detain or return them to the community.
"It's happening too frequently"
Leetta Goode said change needs to happen in her neighborhood and across the city. She said it's common in her area to see young people get in trouble while wearing an electronic monitoring system.
"Before you know it, they're right back here doing the same thing and it scares me," Goode said. "I have a 15-year-old grandson and he be out here."
She added her family saw police in the area Tuesday and heard about the teen's arrest.
"We seen him come this way," Goode said.
"Kids out here, getting into so much trouble," said another resident, Melvin Wilson Jr. "I don't want to see the kid in jail or any kid in jail, really. But that behavior and actions cause for some type of punishment."
Wilson Jr. highlights the importance of having mentors and recreation centers for young people.
"It gives the kids a positive outlet," he said. "There's a lot of things in these streets that kids see that they shouldn't see."
