Baltimore Police Chief Worries Juvenile Crime System Isn't Working

Commissioner Richard Worley says current approaches are not helping young offenders.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:22pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a broken ankle monitor against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the challenges of using this technology to address juvenile crime.A broken ankle monitor symbolizes the limitations of current approaches to juvenile crime in Baltimore.Baltimore Today

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley expressed concerns about the city's handling of juvenile crime, stating that the current system is "not doing these kids a service" and that many young offenders are simply "graduating into the adult system" without proper intervention. Worley cited specific incidents where juveniles on ankle monitors have reoffended, highlighting the limitations of that approach.

Why it matters

Juvenile crime remains a major challenge in Baltimore, with concerns that the current system is failing to properly rehabilitate young offenders and prevent them from escalating to more serious crimes as adults. Worley's comments reflect a broader debate around balancing accountability and support for at-risk youth.

The details

Worley discussed a recent incident where a 16-year-old on an ankle monitor committed a robbery, cutting off the device. He said the time between the juvenile cutting off the monitor and being taken into custody is a major problem, as they can commit additional crimes during that period. Worley said he does not want to keep arresting kids, but believes "some kind of discipline" is necessary to prevent them from "graduating into the adult system."

  • Two nights ago, a 16-year-old on an ankle monitor committed a robbery.

The players

Richard Worley

The Baltimore Police Commissioner who expressed concerns about the city's juvenile crime system.

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What they’re saying

“We are not doing these kids a service by continuing to put them out there because they're going to end up either in the adult system or they're going to end up being harmed when they try to rob the wrong person.”

— Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Commissioner

“We had two nights ago, we had a, I think it was a 16-year-old on an ankle monitor commit a robbery that we locked up. So this ankle monitoring … I don't like it all because they either just cut them off.”

— Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Commissioner

What’s next

Worley said he believes the current system is not adequately addressing juvenile crime, and that changes are needed to better support and rehabilitate young offenders to prevent them from escalating to more serious crimes as adults.

The takeaway

Commissioner Worley's comments highlight the ongoing challenges Baltimore faces in addressing juvenile crime, with concerns that the current approaches are failing to properly rehabilitate young offenders and prevent them from entering the adult criminal justice system. This raises broader questions about the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system and the need for more comprehensive solutions to support at-risk youth.