The City of Baltimore stands at a crossroads when it comes to ensuring the safety of our communities and our futures — especially the future of our youth. Even as crime rates decline locally, with the number of violent and property crimes reported to the police down 6% and 21%, respectively, versus last year, some officials continue to cling to inaccurate, punitive narratives which we know disproportionately harm Black and brown youth.

But the state is moving in the right direction — relying on evidence and not instinct at its Department of Juvenile Services, a response that will reduce recidivism and strengthen long-term community safety.

Despite these promising efforts, critics are pressuring DJS to return to ineffective policies rooted in punishment rather than rehabilitation. Maryland is already aggressive in sending its children to adult courts, jails and prisons, doing so at a rate that rivals only Florida (by count) and Alabama (controlling for the differences in population count among states).

What critics refuse to acknowledge is the sharp increase in the number of children detained — despite a decline in crime. One out of four youth arrests in Baltimore starts in adult court, overcrowding the facility for youth charged as if they were adults. This relentless up-charging — allowing police and prosecutors to circumvent juvenile court processes — runs counter to what we know works to keep communities safe and support young people.

State’s Attorney Ivan Bates insists things are getting worse, incorrectly arguing that a recent Sentencing Project analysis — which relies on detailed Baltimore Police Department reports — does not include youth who are not detained and thus undercounts youth crime. He cited numbers from April, a month in which the BPD report showed 132 arrested youth released to their parents, a figure which is absolutely included in the 283 youth arrests through April counted in our analysis.

Exceptional cases of youth crime understandably dominate headlines, creating a distorted perception of public safety. When youth are charged as if they were adults, the impact is devastating. Children placed in adult facilities are more likely to experience abuse, lose access to education and reoffend upon their release. These harsh policies offer no solutions for the underlying issues that often drive youth to offend — mental health challenges, unstable family situations and difficulties in school.

But research tells a different story: Services and community-based supports — not incarceration — are far more effective in promoting long-term safety. Diversion programs offer young people a chance to take responsibility for their actions in ways that foster personal growth and healing within their communities. DJS, under Secretary Vincent Schiraldi, understands that effective youth justice reform means focusing on prevention and rehabilitation rather than punishment.

The research is clear: Young people who remain connected to their families and communities are far less likely to reoffend. Moreover, Maryland’s data shows that children of color (and their communities as a result) are disproportionately impacted by harsh criminal justice policies. If we want a system that is fair and equitable, we must focus on eliminating racial disparities and keeping kids out of the adult court system.

Despite the data to the contrary, critics will insist that Baltimore’s youth justice system is failing, but the real failure lies with those who refuse to change course. For over 50 years, punitive policies have fueled mass incarceration without making our communities any safer. The push to revert to draconian measures ignores both the data and the long-term needs of children, their families and communities.

Baltimore — and Maryland at large — has an opportunity to do better, by starting all cases involving youth in juvenile courts, by investing in strategies that work and by resisting the call to return to draconian measures. These include strengthening partnerships with schools, mental health providers and community organizations to offer holistic support to young people.

Our leaders face a critical choice: continue down the path of punishment or embrace a new vision of justice rooted in compassion, prevention and opportunity. The future of our children — and our communities — depends on the choices we make today. With the right tools and support, every child can succeed, and every community can flourish.

Josh Rovner is director of youth justice at the advocacy group The Sentencing Project.