CAMBRIDGE — The Dorchester County detention center is struggling to keep up with increases in the number of juveniles incarcerated and may ask for money to build a new wing to house the young offenders. During a Tuesday County Council meeting, council members decided to prioritize the topic for the upcoming Maryland General Assembly legislative session. During a final discussion on priorities for the legislative session, Councilmember Mike Detmer, talked about what he described as his “juvenile crime concern.
” In his comments, Detmer said juvenile crime in Dorchester County has been on the rise and the crimes being committed are more than simply jaywalking. “It’s absolutely insane that we have so many people that have had direct and directly affected by this, multiple people in this room directly affected by juvenile crime,” Detmer said. “And it’s unbelievable that in 2024 that we can be in a place of all the resources and all the talent we have that are wearing badges, that we can be in a place where we’re held hostage by ostensibly well intentioned laws.
” Detmer pleaded with council to put emphasis on juvenile crime for the Maryland General Assembly legislative session. He reminded the council of stories he shared on juvenile crime during previous meetings including children as young as 10 with guns and speeding cars on U.S.
Route 50 and state Route 16 by underage drivers. “There are kids that are still kids on paper,” Detmer said. “(But) they’re.