Graves Near Youth Prison Spotlight Maryland’s Legacy of Injustice

July 23, 2025

The discovery of at least 100 unmarked graves of Black children near Maryland's Cheltenham Youth Detention Center has spotlighted the state's historically racist youth justice system that continues today. Maryland ranks fourth nationally in incarcerating people for childhood crimes and charges more youth as adults per capita than almost every other state, with Black children seven times more likely to face adult charges than white peers. Senator William C.

Who is affected

Black and Brown youth in Maryland's justice system
Children charged and detained as adults in Maryland
Youth of color across the United States who are disproportionately charged as adults
Families of the deceased Black children buried in unmarked graves
Current detainees at Cheltenham Youth Detention Center
The broader Maryland community, particularly communities of color

What action is being taken

Senator William C. Smith Jr. is planning to reintroduce legislation to narrow the list of crimes that automatically send children to adult court
Senator Smith and former Department of Juvenile Services Secretary Vincent Schiraldi are applying for funding to preserve and memorialize the grave site
The Sentencing Project is advocating for reforms to Maryland's youth justice system
Genealogist Rosemary Clark is researching and uncovering death certificates tied to the reform school
Advocacy groups are campaigning against charging youth as adults

Why it matters

Maryland's current practices perpetuate a historical pattern of racial injustice, with Black children seven times more likely to be charged as adults than white peers
Children in adult facilities face higher risks of suicide, sexual assault, and long-term trauma
Youth convicted in adult court lose access to record expungement, educational programs, and rehabilitation services
The unmarked graves physically connect present injustices to historical abuses dating back to the 1870s
Maryland remains an outlier in youth justice policy while over half of U.S. states have restricted or eliminated automatic adult charges for youth
The practice of charging children as adults increases recidivism and hinders reintegration into society

What's next

Senator Smith plans to reintroduce legislation that would reserve adult charges only for the most severe offenses like murder and rape
Senator Smith and former Secretary Schiraldi are seeking funding to preserve and memorialize the burial site
No explicit next steps stated in the article regarding implementation timeline or additional reform initiatives

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint