Leadership of the Maryland General Assembly is moving HB814/SB744, the FOX45 child criminalization bill, legislation that takes Maryland back to being ranked as one of the worst human rights violators of children in the entire United States.

The bill increases the number of children involved with the justice system and reduces opportunities for out-of-court services, diversion, and restorative practices that make communities safer while helping children – it means more arrests for kids 10-12 years old, more cases forwarded to the State’s Attorney office for prosecution, more kids in pre court detention for minor offenses, kids on probation for longer periods of time. This is unacceptable.

We’re calling the leadership of the General Assembly and Governor Moore with a simple message: follow the facts, not fear. Listen to decades of evidence and best practices, and stand by the youth justice-centric legislation passed just two years ago. HB814/SB744 must be struck entirely, except for the portion of the bill that establishes a commission to address challenges in the juvenile justice system.

Please sign up for only ONE 10 minute slot and make all your calls during that timeframe. If you are not able to make a call in one of the remaining empty timeslots, please call using the script below whenever you can -- but, if possible, prioritize filling an empty timeslot. Read below for additional instructions.

INSTRUCTIONS

Use the phone numbers and script below as a guide, but feel free to share any personal reasons for why you support youth justice and/or oppose the FOX45 child criminalization bill. If someone from the office does not pick up, please leave a message.

We ask that you sign up for a timeslot and make three calls: to Senate President Bill Ferguson, House Speaker Adrienne Jones, and Governor Wes Moore.

Senate President Bill Ferguson: 410-841-3600
House Speaker Adrienne Jones: 410-841-3800
Governor Wes Moore: 410-974-3901

After you make your calls, please fill out this JUFJ form. This will help us know if you talked to staff or left a voicemail, and any other important information from your call.

Remember to thank the staff you talk to - they work hard and have fielded a lot of our calls!

CALL SCRIPT

Script for President Ferguson and Speaker Jones

My name is ___ and I live in District ___. I’m calling to express my disappointment and frustration on SB744/HB814, a bill that incarcerates children who are charged with minor offenses before court and subjects more children to the system. We know that this bill will disproportionately impact and harm Black and brown children, and will not make communities safer. All people should be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness – especially children. Please use your leadership position to strike the bill, except for the creation of a commission. I oppose SB744/HB814 unless it is significantly amended.

Script for Governor Moore

My name is ___ and I live in District ___. I’m calling to express my concern and disappointment at Governor Moore’s support of SB744/HB814. Governor Moore said "We do not have to choose between a safe state and a just state" in his Inaugural Address, but this bill won't make Maryland safer or more just. Instead, he’s supporting a bill that incarcerates children who are charged with minor offenses prior to court and subjects more children, disproportionately Black and brown children, to the system. I urge the governor to use his leadership position to significantly amend the bill – everything should be struck except the creation of the commission. If it comes to his desk without these amendments, I urge the Governor to veto the bill.