# Courts and Judicial Proceedings (GCJ)

## Title 3. Courts of General Jurisdiction -- Jurisdiction/special Causes of Action

### Subtitle 8A. Juvenile Causes -- Children Other Than Cinas and Adults

#### Section 3-8A-02

(a) The purposes of this subtitle are:

  (1) To ensure that the Juvenile Justice System balances the following objectives for children who have committed delinquent acts:

    (i) Public safety and the protection of the community;

    (ii) Accountability of the child to the victim and the community for offenses committed; and

    (iii) Competency and character development to assist children in becoming responsible and productive members of society;

  (2) To hold parents of children found to be delinquent responsible for the child's behavior and accountable to the victim and the community;

  (3) To hold parents of children found to be delinquent or in need of supervision responsible, where possible, for remedying the circumstances that required the court's intervention;

  (4) To provide for the care, protection, and wholesome mental and physical development of children coming within the provisions of this subtitle; and to provide for a program of treatment, training, and rehabilitation consistent with the child's best interests and the protection of the public interest;

  (5) To conserve and strengthen the child's family ties and to separate a child from his parents only when necessary for his welfare or in the interest of public safety;

  (6) If necessary to remove a child from his home, to secure for him custody, care, and discipline as nearly as possible equivalent to that which should have been given by his parents;

  (7) To provide to children in State care and custody:

    (i) A safe, humane, and caring environment; and

    (ii) Access to required services; and

  (8) To provide judicial procedures for carrying out the provisions of this subtitle.

(b) This subtitle shall be liberally construed to effectuate these purposes.

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Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)