A new poll found that most Maryland residents, including Black Democrats, support a tough-on-crime stance toward youth violence, favoring laws that include detention and boot camps for juveniles over laws that prescribe social programs and counseling.
Fifty-nine percent of Maryland residents said strict laws would “ultimately better help children under 18 who commit crimes” while 35 percent said laws characterized as more lenient, which acknowledge society bears responsibility for much of the behavior, would be the best strategy, according to a Gonzales Research poll released Tuesday.
The findings come as the state legislature weighs how to address a surge in youth gun violence and carjackings, and as law enforcement officials and some legislators seek to unwind recent laws that have taken a more systemic or holistic approach to addressing juvenile crime.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Ovetta Wiggins over at The Washington Post
