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*sb0524*
SENATE BILL 524
E3 6lr3123
CF HB 1145
By: Senator M. Washington (By Request – Baltimore City Administration)
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 4, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Juvenile Records – Access by Baltimore City Mayor’s Office 2
FOR the purpose of establishing that certain provisions of law relating to the confidentiality 3
of juvenile police records and court records do not prohibit access to and confidential 4
use of certain records by the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Neighborho od Safety 5
and Engagement, the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success, 6
and the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of African American Male Engagement under 7
certain circumstances; requiring certain Baltimore City Mayor’s offices, prior to the 8
access to and confidential use of certain records, to enter into a certain memorandum 9
of understanding and obtain certain written consent; establishing liability for the 10
unauthorized release of a certain record; and generally relating to juvenile records. 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 13
Section 3–8A–27 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Courts and Judicial Proceedings 19
3–8A–27. 20
2 SENATE BILL 524
(a) (1) A police record concerning a child is confidential and shall be 1
maintained separate from those of adults. Its contents may not be divulged, by subpoena 2
or otherwise, except by order of the court upon good cause shown or as otherwise provided 3
in § 7–303 of the Education Article. 4
(2) This subsection does not prohibit: 5
(i) Access to and confidential use of the record by the Department of 6
Juvenile Service s or in the investigation and prosecution of the child by any law 7
enforcement agency; 8
(II) ACCESS TO AND CONFIDE NTIAL USE OF THE REC ORD BY 9
THE BALTIMORE CITY MAYOR’S OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY AND 10
ENGAGEMENT, THE BALTIMORE CITY MAYOR’S OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY 11
SUCCESS, AND THE BALTIMORE CITY MAYOR’S OFFICE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN 12
MALE ENGAGEMENT, IF THE OFFICE IS PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO A 13
CHILD WHO IS THE SUB JECT OF THE RECORD , FOR A PURPOSE RELEVA NT TO THE 14
PROVISION OF THE PRO GRAMS AND S ERVICES AND THE DEVE LOPMENT OF A 15
COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PLAN; 16
[(ii)] (III) A law enforcement agency of the State or of a political 17
subdivision of the State, the Department of Juvenile Services, or the criminal justice 18
information system from including in the law enforcement computer information system 19
information about: 20
1. An outstanding juvenile court ordered writ of attachment 21
or an outstanding criminal court ordered writ of attachment, for the sole purpose of 22
apprehending a child named in the writ; 23
2. An outstanding criminal court issued warrant, for the sole 24
purpose of apprehending a child named in the warrant; or 25
3. A missing child as defined in § 9 –401 of the Family Law 26
Article; or 27
[(iii)] (IV) A law enforcement agency of the St ate or of a political 28
subdivision of the State, when necessary and for the sole purposes of facilitating 29
apprehension of a child and ensuring public safety, from releasing to the public photographs 30
and identifying information of a child who: 31
1. Has escaped from: 32
A. A detention center for juveniles; 33
B. A secure residential facility for juveniles; or 34
SENATE BILL 524 3
C. A correctional unit as defined in § 2 –401 of the 1
Correctional Services Article; 2
2. Is a missing child as defined in § 9–401 of the Family Law 3
Article; or 4
3. The court does not have jurisdiction over pursuant to § 5
3–8A–03(d)(1), (4), or (5) of this subtitle and who is subject to: 6
A. Arrest; or 7
B. An arrest warrant issued by a criminal court. 8
(3) (I) PRIOR TO THE ACCESS TO AND CONFID ENTIAL USE OF A 9
RECORD BY A BALTIMORE CITY MAYOR’S OFFICE SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (2)(II) 10
OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE OFFICE SHALL: 11
1. ENTER INTO A WRITTEN MEMORANDUM OF 12
UNDERSTANDING WITH THE AGENCY DISCLOSING THE RECORD; AND 13
2. OBTAIN EXPRESS WRITTE N CONSENT IN A SINGL E 14
DOCUMENT FROM THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF THE CHILD WHO IS THE SUBJECT 15
OF THE RECORD. 16
(II) A BALTIMORE CITY MAYOR’S OFFICE SPECIFIED I N 17
PARAGRAPH (2)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL BE LIABLE FOR T HE 18
UNAUTHORIZED RE LEASE OF A POLICE RE CORD IT ACCESSES UND ER THIS 19
SUBSECTION. 20
(b) (1) A court record pertaining to a child is confidential and its contents may 21
not be divulged, by subpoena or otherwise, except by order of the court upon good cause 22
shown or as provided in §§ 7–303 and 22–309 of the Education Article. 23
(2) This subsection does not prohibit access to and the use of the court 24
record or fingerprints of a child described under Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the Criminal 25
Procedure Article in a proceeding in the court involving the child, by personnel of the court, 26
the State’s Attorney, counsel for the child, a court–appointed special advocate for the child, 27
or authorized personnel of the Department of Juvenile Services. 28
(3) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii ) of this paragraph, this 29
subsection does not prohibit access to and confidential use of the court record or fingerprints 30
of a child described under Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the Criminal Procedure Article by the 31
Department of Juvenile Services or in an inve stigation and prosecution by a law 32
enforcement agency. 33
(ii) The court record or fingerprints of a child described under §§ 34
4 SENATE BILL 524
10–215(a)(20) and (21), 10–216, and 10–220 of the Criminal Procedure Article may not be 1
disclosed to: 2
1. A federal criminal justice agency or information center; or 3
2. Any law enforcement agency other than a law enforcement 4
agency of the State or a political subdivision of the State. 5
(4) (i) The Department of Juvenile Services may provide access to and 6
the confidential use of the court record of a child by an agency in the District of Columbia 7
or a state agency in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia, if the agency: 8
1. Performs the same functions in the jurisdiction of the 9
agency as described in § 9–216(a) of the Human Services Article; and 10
2. Has a reciprocal agreement with the State that provides 11
that the specific information to be shared by the State is the same type of information that 12
will be shared by the agency. 13
(ii) A record that is sh ared under this paragraph may only provide 14
information that is relevant to the supervision, care, and treatment of the child. 15
(iii) The Department of Juvenile Services shall be liable for an 16
unauthorized release of a court record under this paragraph. 17
(iv) The Department of Juvenile Services shall adopt regulations to 18
implement this paragraph. 19
(5) (i) This subsection does not prohibit access to and use of a court 20
record by a judicial officer who is authorized under the Maryland Rules to determine a 21
defendant’s eligibility for pretrial release, counsel for the defendant, the State’s Attorney, 22
or the Maryland Division of Pretrial Detention and Services if: 23
1. The individual who is the subject of the court record is 24
charged as an adult with an offense; 25
2. The access to and use of the court record is strictly limited 26
for the purpose of determining the defendant’s eligibility for pretrial release; and 27
3. The court record concerns an adjudication of delinquency 28
that occurred within 3 years of the date the individual is charged as an adult. 29
(ii) The Supreme Court of Maryland may adopt rules to implement 30
the provisions of this paragraph. 31
(6) (i) This subsection does not prohibit access to and confidential use 32
of a court record by the Department of Human Services or a local department of social 33
SENATE BILL 524 5
services: 1
1. For the purpose of claiming federal Title IV –B and Title 2
IV–E funds; or 3
2. If the Department of Human Services or a local 4
department of social services is providing treatment, services, or care to a child who is the 5
subject of the record. 6
(ii) The Department of Human Services and local departments of 7
social services shall keep a court record obtained under this paragraph confidential in 8
accordance with the laws and policies applicable to the Department of Human Services and 9
local departments of social services. 10
(7) (i) This subsection does not prohibit access to and confidential use 11
of a court record by the Maryland Department of Health or a local health department if the 12
Maryland Department of Health or a local health department is providing treatment, 13
services, or care in coordination with the Department of Juvenile Services to a child who is 14
the subject of the record, for a purpose relevant to the provision of the treatment, services, 15
or care. 16
(ii) The Maryland Department of Health and local health 17
departments shall keep a court record obtained under this paragraph confidential in 18
accordance with the laws and policies applicable to the Maryland Department of Healt h 19
and local health departments. 20
(8) This subsection does not prohibit access to and confidential use of a 21
court record by the Commission on Juvenile Justice Reform and Emerging and Best 22
Practices if the Commission is performing the functions described u nder § 9 –3502 of the 23
State Government Article. 24
(9) (I) THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT ACCESS TO AND 25
CONFIDENTIAL USE OF A COURT RECORD BY TH E BALTIMORE CITY MAYOR’S 26
OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY AND ENGAGEMENT, THE BALTIMORE CITY 27
MAYOR’S OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SUCCESS, AND THE BALTIMORE CITY 28
MAYOR’S OFFICE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE ENGAGEMENT, IF THE OFFICE IS 29
PROVIDING PROGRAMS A ND SERVICES IN CONJU NCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT 30
OF JUVENILE SERVICES TO A CHILD W HO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE RECORD, FOR A 31
PURPOSE RELEVANT TO THE PROVISION OF THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND THE 32
DEVELOPMENT OF A COM PREHENSIVE TREATMENT PLAN PURPOSES DIRECTLY 33
RELATED TO SUPPORTIN G THE TREATMENT , REHABILITATION, REENTRY 34
PLANNING, OR CONTINUITY OF CARE. 35
(II) PRIOR TO THE ACCESS T O AND CONFIDENTIAL U SE OF A 36
RECORD BY A BALTIMORE CITY MAYOR’S OFFICE SPECIFIED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (I) 37
OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE OFFICE SHALL: 38
6 SENATE BILL 524
1. ENTER INTO A WRITTEN MEMORANDUM OF 1
UNDERSTANDING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES THAT: 2
A. IDENTIFIES THE SPECIFIC RECORDS TO BE SHARED; 3
B. DEFINES THE PURPOSE A ND NECESSITY OF THE 4
DISCLOSURE; 5
C. LIMITS THE USE OF THE RECORDS TO THE PURPOSES 6
DESCRIBED IN THIS PARAGRAPH; 7
D. PROHIBITS REDISCLOSURE OF THE RECORDS TO ANY 8
OTHER PERSON; AND 9
E. REQUIRES COMPLIANCE W ITH APPLICABLE STATE 10
AND FEDERAL CONFIDENTIALITY LAWS; AND 11
2. OBTAIN EXPRESS WRITTE N CONSENT IN A SINGL E 12
DOCUMENT FROM THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF THE CHILD WHO IS THE SUBJECT 13
OF THE RECORD. 14
(III) A BALTIMORE CITY MAYOR’S OFFICE SPECIFIED I N 15
SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH SH ALL BE LIABLE FOR TH E 16
UNAUTHORIZED RELEASE OF A COURT RECORD IT ACCESSES UNDER THIS 17
PARAGRAPH. 18
(c) The court, on its own motion or on petition, and for good cause shown, may 19
order the court records of a child sealed, and, upon petition or on its own motion, shall order 20
them sealed after the child has reached 21 years of age. If sealed, the court records of a 21
child may not be opened, for any purpose, except by order of the cour t upon good cause 22
shown. 23
(d) This section does not prohibit access to or use of any juvenile record by the 24
Maryland Division of Parole and Probation or the Maryland Parole Commission when the 25
Division or the Commission is carrying out any of their statut ory duties either at the 26
direction of a court of competent jurisdiction, or when the Maryland Parole Commission is 27
carrying out any of its statutory duties, if the record concerns a charge or adjudication of 28
delinquency. 29
(e) This section does not prohibi t access to and use of any juvenile record by the 30
Maryland Division of Correction when the Division is carrying out any of its statutory 31
duties if: (1) the individual to whom the record pertains is committed to the custody of the 32
Division; and (2) the record concerns an adjudication of delinquency. 33
SENATE BILL 524 7
(f) Subject to the provisions of §§ 9–219 and 9–220 of the Human Services Article, 1
this section does not prohibit access to or use of any juvenile record for criminal justice 2
research purposes. A record used un der this subsection may not contain the name of the 3
individual to whom the record pertains, or any other identifying information which could 4
reveal the individual’s name. 5
(g) This section does not prohibit a victim or victim’s representative who has filed 6
a notification request form from being notified of proceedings and events involving the 7
defendant or child as provided in this subtitle, the Criminal Procedure Article, or the 8
Criminal Law Article. 9
(h) This section does not prohibit the Department of P ublic Safety and 10
Correctional Services or a supervising authority, as defined in § 11 –701 of the Criminal 11
Procedure Article, from accessing or using the part of a juvenile record that identifies an 12
offense committed by a juvenile for purposes of complying with Title 11, Subtitle 7 of the 13
Criminal Procedure Article. 14
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 15
October 1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 5 years and, at the end of September 16
30, 2031, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 17
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 18
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.