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HB 952

Juvenile Sex Offender Registry - Qualifying Offenses and Access

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jason Buckel and 3 co-sponsors

HB 952 redefines which juvenile sex offenses trigger Maryland's registry requirement and adjusts public access to offender information, affecting youth accountability and community notification practices.

Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 952

Legislative bill overview

HB 952 modifies Maryland's Juvenile Sex Offender Registry by adjusting which offenses qualify for inclusion and potentially altering public access provisions to the registry. The bill affects how juvenile offenders convicted of sex crimes are categorized and tracked within the state's registration system.

Why is this important

Juvenile sex offender registries directly impact public safety communications, rehabilitation prospects for young offenders, and community notification protocols. The specific offenses included and access levels determine which youth are subject to long-term registration consequences and how widely their information is disseminated, affecting both child protection efforts and the reintegration prospects of registered juveniles.

Potential points of contention

  • Age of accountability vs. rehabilitation: Whether juveniles should face lifelong registry consequences for adolescent conduct, given developmental neuroscience and rehabilitation capacity
  • Scope of qualifying offenses: Disagreement over whether the bill expands or restricts which juvenile offenses trigger registration, potentially affecting how broadly the system casts its net
  • Public access levels: Tension between community safety (broader public access) and privacy/reintegration concerns (restricted access to law enforcement only)
  • Implementation costs: Resource requirements for law enforcement to manage registry changes and compliance monitoring

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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