City attorney pushes for parents to be punished for child crimes; expert says it’s hard to do

Baltimore (WBFF) – Over the past week or so, Baltimore City has seen more than a dozen juvenile arrests for various crimes, including assault and armed carjackings, one of the suspects is 12 years old. There is now more talk about holding parents accountable – in some cases – when children commit crimes.

Concern grew this week after police said a 13-year-old child who cleans car windshields for money attacked a 51-year-old man in his car in West Baltimore on Tuesday morning – a school day.

“He should have been in school and his parents should be held responsible, his parents should be blamed. Because if my 10 year old is not at school, I know his whereabouts. I always know where he is,” Teresa said. Jones, a concerned motorist.

And just a day before the alleged incident, Baltimore City Attorney Ivan Bates appeared on Fox 45 along with political commentator Armstrong Williams on Monday’s town hall on “Your Voice, Your Future.”

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Among the topics discussed, Bates confirmed his plans to deal with parents when their children become criminals.

“There are some parents who, no matter what happens, they don’t care what their children do. It doesn’t matter what age they are, they just aren’t interested in being parents. Those are the parents I look up to,” Bates said.

But attorney Brandon Meade said prosecuting the parent could be difficult.

“The government is going to have to face a lot of obstacles to really get involved with parents,” Meade said.

When Maryland lawmakers convene next session, crafting legislation aimed at holding parents accountable for crimes their children commit could be difficult at best and impossible at worst, Mead said.

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“I think the Legislature will have to overcome some constitutional hurdles when it comes to holding parents accountable under the law. Because really, even if they’re kids, they’re their own person,” Mead said.

Still, the city’s top prosecutor persists as frustration fuels calls to do something to hold parents or juvenile offenders accountable.

“The reality is, a lot of these kids don’t have a two-parent home. And if you take one of the parents they have and throw them in jail for being naughty, what will that do to the child in the future,” he said. Honey.