2023 Maryland Statutes › Criminal Procedure › Title 4 - Pretrial Procedures › Subtitle 2 - Venue and Other Procedural Matters › Section 4-202 - Transfer of Criminal Cases to Juvenile Court

(a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)    “Victim” has the meaning stated in § 11–104 of this article.
(3)    “Victim’s representative” has the meaning stated in § 11–104 of this article.
(b)    Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a court exercising criminal jurisdiction in a case involving a child may transfer the case to the juvenile court before trial or before a plea is entered under Maryland Rule 4–242 if:
(1)    the accused child was at least 14 but not 18 years of age when the alleged crime was committed;
(2)    the alleged crime is excluded from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court under § 3–8A–03(e)(1), (4), or (5) of the Courts Article; and
(3)    the court determines by a preponderance of the evidence that a transfer of its jurisdiction is in the interest of the child or society.
(c)    The court may not transfer a case to the juvenile court under subsection (b) of this section if:
(1)    the child was convicted in an unrelated case excluded from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court under § 3–8A–03(e)(1) or (4) of the Courts Article; or
(2)    the alleged crime is murder in the first degree and the accused child was 16 or 17 years of age when the alleged crime was committed.
(d)    In determining whether to transfer jurisdiction under subsection (b) of this section, the court shall consider:
(1)    the age of the child;
(2)    the mental and physical condition of the child;
(3)    the amenability of the child to treatment in an institution, facility, or program available to delinquent children;
(4)    the nature of the alleged crime; and
(5)    the public safety.
(e)    In making a determination under this section, the court may order that a study be made concerning the child, the family of the child, the environment of the child, and other matters concerning the disposition of the case.
(f)    The court shall make a transfer determination within 10 days after the date of a transfer hearing.
(g)    If the court transfers its jurisdiction under this section, the court may order the child held for an adjudicatory hearing under the regular procedure of the juvenile court.
(h)    (1)    Pending a determination under this section to transfer its jurisdiction, the court shall order the child to be held in a secure juvenile facility unless:
(i)    the child is released on bail, recognizance, or other conditions of pretrial release;
(ii)    there is not available capacity in a secure juvenile facility, as determined by the Department of Juvenile Services; or
(iii)    the court finds that detention in a secure juvenile facility would pose a risk of harm to the child or others.
(2)    If the court makes a finding under paragraph (1)(iii) of this subsection that detention in a secure juvenile facility would pose a risk of harm to the child or others, the court shall state the reasons for the finding on the record.
(i)    (1)    The provisions of § 3–8A–27 of the Courts Article relating to confidentiality of records apply to all police records and court records concerning the child excluded from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court under § 3–8A–03(e)(1), (4), or (5) of the Courts Article from the time of the child’s arrest until:
(i)    the time for filing of a motion to transfer to juvenile court under the Maryland Rules has expired and no such motion has been filed; or
(ii)    a motion to transfer to juvenile court has been denied.
(2)    If a case is transferred to the juvenile court under this section:
(i)    the provisions of § 3–8A–27 of the Courts Article relating to confidentiality of records continue to apply to all police and court records concerning the child; and
(ii)    the criminal charge is subject to expungement under § 10–106 of this article.
(j)    (1)    A victim or victim’s representative shall be given notice of the transfer hearing as provided under § 11–104 of this article.
(2)    (i)    A victim or a victim’s representative may submit a victim impact statement to the court as provided in § 11–402 of this article.
(ii)    This paragraph does not preclude a victim or victim’s representative who has not filed a notification request form under § 11–104 of this article from submitting a victim impact statement to the court.
(iii)    The court shall consider a victim impact statement in determining whether to transfer jurisdiction under this section.
(k)    (1)    Regardless of whether the District Court has jurisdiction over the case, at a bail review or preliminary hearing before the District Court involving a child whose case is eligible for transfer under subsection (b) of this section, the District Court:
(i)    may order that a study be made under the provisions of subsection (e) of this section; and
(ii)    shall order that the child be held in a secure juvenile facility pending a transfer determination under this section unless:
1.    the child is released on bail, recognizance, or other conditions of pretrial release;
2.    there is not available capacity at a secure juvenile facility as determined by the Department of Juvenile Services; or
3.    the District Court finds that detention in a secure juvenile facility would pose a risk of harm to the child or others.
(2)    If the District Court makes a finding under paragraph (1)(ii)3 of this subsection that detention in a secure juvenile facility would pose a risk of harm to the child or others, the District Court shall state the reasons for the finding on the record.