Maryland's Nightmare

The Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center opened less than a year ago in Baltimore, Maryland and since then has become an unpleasant and repulsive place . It was originally house only 48 youths but the number has increased to 106. Even with this increase of numbers the amount of staff available has remained the same. This, along with the cramped and insufficient structure of the building, has made the center a hostile environment. Such incidents as fires, filth, suicide attempts, brawls, and riots have caused public defenders, clergy members and volunteer groups to avoid the place.
Some solutions that have been considered to fix the overcrowded conditions are to transfer the youth to older jails that have remained open, or establish community facilities for less violent youths.