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By Rabbi Daniel Kotzin Berg, Bishop JL Carter, Imam Earl L-Emine, and Rev Marlon Tilghman
The author is a pastor in the Baltimore region: Daniel Kotzin Berg is a senior rabbi at the Beth AM Aradhanar at Baltimore. The bishop Carter leads the Arc Church in Baltimore. Earl L-Amin is a resident of the Muslim Community Cultural Center in Baltimore. Marlon Tilghman is the pastor of AIIMS United Methodist Church at Bell Air.
As members of the Vishwas community, we appreciate that the Mahasabha is taking seriously the concerns of the community about public safety and crime reduction. We understand the apprehensions that have been amplified in the media and around the dinner table. Nevertheless, we also believe that most new Juvenile Justice Act (House Bill 814/Senate Bill 744), as currently written, will do more harm than well.
Announcing the new law on 31 January, Senate President Bill Ferguson said, “While young criminals committed less than 10% of crimes, unfortunately, it is clear that they become the largest part of crime perception challenge in Maryland.” We are worried that this law gives more answers to the perception of youth crime than empirical evidence about what is in the best interest of our communities and our children.
This was clear in the recent committee hearing on the bills. Because the new law allows children between the ages of 10 to 12 to arrest for non -violent offenses, MPs from the House and Senate often requested data related to the crimes of 10, 11 and 12 -year -old children. Bill sponsors could not produce any related data, which begs this question: are these bills run by fear and frustration or evidence?
We know, there is a greater possibility of formation of criminals who enter all available avidanthets entering the criminal justice system. Therefore, while the declared target of adolescent detention is rehabilitation, taking children away from diversionary programs increases the possibility that they will become disorganized adults – a punitive result.
Our sacred texts teach us that when fear is not balanced with sympathy and reliable information, we lose the vision of the most sacred guide in making righteous decisions: Knowledge. And it is knowledge that eventually allows humans, made in the image of God, healed and grow. Let’s not put the cart before the horse and pass a law based on fear or frustration. Instead, the policy guided by knowledge is led to the best accountability and care for our children.
We urge our elected leaders to hear community reactions and pursue proven solutions that do not punish children for system failures. Our children are sacred. The burden of their poor decisions should be balanced against their future prospects. We can do better by talking less and listening more – they and the experts who know what they need.
Re -published