Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates is again speaking out on youth crime. He said young people are being more daring and aggressive and that the Department of Juvenile Services is forwarding cases to his office that he did not get before. “I see the juvenile crime numbers. Juvenile crime is out of control,” Bates said.He said the main issue remains holding young people accountable.”What will happen to our city if we don’t deal with this?” Bates said.From January until July 15, 2022, there were 191 juvenile cases, Bates said. At the same time, in 2023, there were 304 cases. In 2024, there have been 590 cases.”But the one area of the law that’s truly blown me away are robberies,” Bates said.In the first six months of 2022, only 17 juveniles faced robbery charges — in 2023 there were 56. In 2024, there have been 246 juveniles charged, according to Bates.Car thefts are up, too, with 82 juveniles charged in the first six months of 2022 — the number grew to 129 in 2023 and 212 in 2024.”We’re also seeing a large number of juveniles being held accountable in ways they had not been held accountable before, but also pushing the envelope in terms of how far they can go because no one said no to them,” Bates said.Bates remains concerned about crimes involving guns and other weapons. Baltimore police are still trying to find the person who shot a 14-year-old boy on North Luzerne Avenue on Saturday. The day before, police located another 14-year-old boy shot in an alley off West Saratoga Street. Both survived, but others have not. Fourteen-year-old Jasper Davis was killed July 21 at the Mondawmin Metro Station — police are still searching for the person who shot him. On July 19, 12-year-old Breaunna Cormley was shot and killed on North Kenwood Avenue. Twenty-eight-year-old Omar Passmore is charged with her death. 14-year-old Cortez Lemon died after getting stabbed July 10 during an altercation on an MTA bus on Frankford Avenue. Police arrested 18-year-old Brandon Lee Adams, Jr.”We’re seeing other juveniles picking up guns and shooting one another and not understanding the seriousness of their actions,” Bates said.A new Maryland law goes into effect in November focusing on how the state can handle juvenile offenders younger than 13.Baltimore Police Department statement”Youth who are being charged are brought to Juvenile Booking as a request for review of detention. Based on the alleged offense, the Department of Juvenile Services, per the Statute, is responsible for making the detention or release decision. Juvenile-related offenses are of significant priority for the Baltimore Police Department and we are working to provide information to the partnering agencies as offenses continue to occur and also escalate in nature.”Numbers released by Baltimore Police DepartmentBPD has the following juvenile arrests, as of the end of June 2024: 2022 year to date: 2782023 year to date: 3092024 year to date: 348 Assault and robbery arrests: 2022 year to date: 182023 year to date: 362024 year to date: 93Carjacking arrests: 2022 year to date: 42023 year to date: 22024 year to date: 2Stolen auto arrests: 2022 year to date: 492023 year to date: 952024 year to date: 92
BALTIMORE —
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates is again speaking out on youth crime.
He said young people are being more daring and aggressive and that the Department of Juvenile Services is forwarding cases to his office that he did not get before.
“I see the juvenile crime numbers. Juvenile crime is out of control,” Bates said.
He said the main issue remains holding young people accountable.
“What will happen to our city if we don’t deal with this?” Bates said.
From January until July 15, 2022, there were 191 juvenile cases, Bates said. At the same time, in 2023, there were 304 cases. In 2024, there have been 590 cases.
“But the one area of the law that’s truly blown me away are robberies,” Bates said.
In the first six months of 2022, only 17 juveniles faced robbery charges — in 2023 there were 56. In 2024, there have been 246 juveniles charged, according to Bates.
Car thefts are up, too, with 82 juveniles charged in the first six months of 2022 — the number grew to 129 in 2023 and 212 in 2024.
“We’re also seeing a large number of juveniles being held accountable in ways they had not been held accountable before, but also pushing the envelope in terms of how far they can go because no one said no to them,” Bates said.
Bates remains concerned about crimes involving guns and other weapons.
Baltimore police are still trying to find the person who shot a 14-year-old boy on North Luzerne Avenue on Saturday. The day before, police located another 14-year-old boy shot in an alley off West Saratoga Street. Both survived, but others have not.
Fourteen-year-old Jasper Davis was killed July 21 at the Mondawmin Metro Station — police are still searching for the person who shot him. On July 19, 12-year-old Breaunna Cormley was shot and killed on North Kenwood Avenue. Twenty-eight-year-old Omar Passmore is charged with her death. 14-year-old Cortez Lemon died after getting stabbed July 10 during an altercation on an MTA bus on Frankford Avenue. Police arrested 18-year-old Brandon Lee Adams, Jr.
“We’re seeing other juveniles picking up guns and shooting one another and not understanding the seriousness of their actions,” Bates said.
A new Maryland law goes into effect in November focusing on how the state can handle juvenile offenders younger than 13.
Baltimore Police Department statement
“Youth who are being charged are brought to Juvenile Booking as a request for review of detention. Based on the alleged offense, the Department of Juvenile Services, per the Statute, is responsible for making the detention or release decision. Juvenile-related offenses are of significant priority for the Baltimore Police Department and we are working to provide information to the partnering agencies as offenses continue to occur and also escalate in nature.”
Numbers released by Baltimore Police Department
BPD has the following juvenile arrests, as of the end of June 2024:
- 2022 year to date: 278
- 2023 year to date: 309
- 2024 year to date: 348
Assault and robbery arrests:
- 2022 year to date: 18
- 2023 year to date: 36
- 2024 year to date: 93
Carjacking arrests:
- 2022 year to date: 4
- 2023 year to date: 2
- 2024 year to date: 2
Stolen auto arrests:
- 2022 year to date: 49
- 2023 year to date: 95
- 2024 year to date: 92