Circuit courts across Maryland continue to handle juvenile cases amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Administrative Judge William Tucker of the Howard County Circuit Court, who also chairs the Maryland Judiciary’s Juvenile Justice Subcommittee, is among those conducting these hearings remotely alongside juvenile court magistrates.
"Juvenile court has continued operations during the COVID-19 pandemic," Judge Tucker stated. "Although it is operating remotely right now, our main goal remains the rehabilitation of juveniles and the safety of the community, while maintaining the court’s mission of providing efficient and effective justice for all."
In Maryland, juvenile cases involve individuals under 18 accused of delinquency. A child is considered delinquent if they commit an act that would be a crime for an adult and require court intervention.
The Maryland Judiciary is in Phase II of its reopening plan. During this phase, juvenile courts are not holding adjudications or disposition hearings but focus on cases where minors have been arrested and detained. The courts decide whether a child should remain in detention or be released under certain conditions before adjudication.
To ensure safety amid the pandemic, hearings are conducted remotely using platforms like Skype or Go to Meeting. This setup involves IT staff support and allows participants to join from various locations. The confidentiality of proceedings is maintained by holding individual hearings.
Judge Michael Stamm from St. Mary’s County Circuit Court emphasized the importance of continuing emergency juvenile cases during this period: "It is critical that we hear emergency juvenile cases during the COVID-19 public health emergency... Our goal is to fairly and efficiently process juvenile cases while ensuring that we rehabilitate delinquent juveniles."
Juvenile courts remain informed about COVID-19 conditions in facilities housing minors through weekly conference calls with relevant stakeholders. These discussions help monitor children's health and services provided both in placements and within communities.
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