FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SACKIN.

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP STOASHT.

WHO GETS THE CREDIT FOR THE DROP IN VIOLENT CRIME?

WE'LL TALK WITH THE BALTIMORE CITY STATE'S ATTORNEY LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

BUT FIRST TONIGHT, PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS THE WAR IN IRAN COULD LAST A MONTH OR LONGER.

THE FIRST WAVE OF ATTACKS KILLED THAT NATION'S SUPREME LEADER AND DOZENS OF OTHER TOP OFFICIALS.

JOINING US NOW FOR ANALYSIS, JOSHUA SHIFRINSON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND SENIOR FELLOW AT THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL AND SECURITY STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

SIR, CAN YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE ARE JUST A FEW DAYS INTO THIS CONFLICT, BUT BROADLY, WHAT STANDS OUT FOR YOU?

>> WELL, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE FIRST AND FOREMOST.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE CONFLICT ITSELF, A COUPLE THINGS HAVE SURPRISED ME.

FIRST I'M VERY SURPRISED THE WAR HAS STARTED WITH SUCH AN EFFORT TO DECAPITATE THE IRANIAN LEADERSHIP TO ELIMINATE THE SENIOR LEADERS WITH WHOM WITH ISRAEL STRIKING AMERICAN BASES, ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE STRAITS OF H ON ORMUZ AND THERE ARE REPORTS OF IRAN GETTING AFTER BRITISH BASE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA.

I HAVE BEEN SURPRISED HOW QUICKLY THE CONFLICT HAS SPREAD IN TERMS OF THE INTENSITY OF THE CONFLICT AS WELL AS THE SCALE OF THE CONFLICT AND THE SCOPE OF THE CONFLICT.

>> Jeff: IN TERMS OF THE DECAPITATION STRIKE AND THE EFFECTS OF THAT, I GUESS IT CREATES A DEGREE OF A POWER VACUUM BUT NOT ENOUGH TO PREVENT IRAN'S MILITARY FROM DOING WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, PREARRANGED PLANNING FOR RETALIATION STRIKES.

>> NO, YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, IRAN ALMOST CERTAINLY KNEW THAT EVEN IF THE LEADERSHIP WASN'T GOING TO BE ELIMINATED, THAT IT WAS GOING TO FACE SEVERE INTERNET AND COMMUNICATION RESTRICTIONS SO THEY PREDELEGATED MILITARY AUTHORITY TO LOCAL COMMANDERS AND THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SCALE OF THE CONFLICT BECAUSE WITHOUT A CENTRAL COMMAND, IT IS HARDER TO COORDINATE AND SAY WHAT SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT BE DONE IN THE BATTLEFIELD.

WE HAVE A DEGREE OF IRANIAN ADAPTATION CONTINUING TO THE PACE OF HOSTILITIES.

>> Jeff: IRAN HAS STRUCK NEIGHBORING STATES AROUND THE REGION.

I GUESS HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED AS WELL.

COULD YOU SEE IT GOING ANY FURTHER?

>> I THINK ABOUT THE PATRONS, THE SUPER POWERS THAT DEAL WITH IRAN ON A REGULAR BASIS, TRYING TO-- AND RUSSIA, IS THERE ANY SCENARIO WHERE THEY ARE DRAWN INTO THIS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW RUSSIA AND CHINA HAVE TRIED TO BACK AWAY FROM IRAN.

IRAN, I THINK, FEELS SOMEWHAT BETRAYED ALTHOUGH IT SHOULD NOT BE BETRAYED BY MOSCOW AND BEIJING.

COULD IT GO SOMEWHERE ELSE?

YES.

RUSSIA AND CHINA IN PARTICULAR ARE DEPENDENT UPON THE FREE FLOW OF OIL.

THIS IS NOT HOSPITABLE, THE CLOSURE OF HORMUZ COULD BE PROBLEMATIC FOR CHINA AND MIGHT FEEL COMPELLED TO GET INVOLVED.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW BEIJING OR RUSSIA WOULD RESPOND TO THE PROSPECT OF A IRANIAN COLLAPSE OR IMPLOSION.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS ESCALATES YET.

FINALLY WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE CONFLICT MAY SCALE, IF AND WHEN THE ARAB STATES GET INVOLVED IN THE FIGHTING.

AND THERE ARE ALREADY REPORTS OF SAUDI ARABIA AND OTHERS SEEKING TO GET INVOLVED IN THE HOSTILITIES AS THE CONFLICT SPREADS TO THEIR TERRITORY.

>> Jeff: IN TERMS OF A REPLACEMENT REGIME IF THERE IS TO BE ONE, I MEAN THIS HAS BEEN A THEOCRACY SINCE THE FALL OF THE SHAH.

THAT'S AN UNUSUAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT, ISN'T IT?

>> YES, THERE ARE VERY FEW EXPLICITLY THEE CRATTIC GOVERNMENTS-- THEO CRATTIC GOVERNMENTS LEFT IN THE WORLD THESE DAY WITH THE DEMOCRATIC AND OUGHT TRAITIC FEATURES OF THE ROIB REGIME.

IF AND WHEN A POWER VACUUM EMERGES, IF THERE IS A REGIME CHANGE, IT WILL BE VERY HARD TO PREDICT WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WILL REPREPLACE IT AND WE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF AN IRANIAN CIVIL WAR OR IRANIAN POWER STRUGGLE GIVEN HOW HEAVILY ARMED AND POPULOUS IRAN IS AND GIVEN THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IRAN HAS AT ITS DESPICABLE.

>> Jeff: A HEAD OF HEADLINES ABOUT THE SON OF THE FORMER SHAH OF IRAN, SOMEHOW POTENTIALLY RIDING TO THE RESCUE AND BEING PART OF A NEW GOVERNMENT.

BUT I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AT THE TIME.

I RECALL THAT THE IRANIANS HATED THE SHAH AND OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A REVOLUTION AND BIG PROTESTS AND CERTAINLY WE HAVE SEEN THE UNPOPULARITY OF THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT.

SO IS THERE AN OBVIOUS SOLUTION THERE?

>> WELL, NO, THERE IS NO REAL OBVIOUS SOLUTION.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE UNPOPULARITY OF THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT, YOU SAW STREET PROTESTS BREAKING OUT IN JANUARY AGAINST THE INCUMBENT GOVERNMENT.

YOU ALSO SAW PEOPLE CELEBRATING WHEN EYE AYATOLLAH HO MEANY WAS KILLED IN THE INITIAL WAVE BUT YOU SEEN A NUMBER OF MOURNERS COME OUT AFTER THE DEATH.

IT IS A DIVIDED SOCIETY.

IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT THE POPULIST AT LARGE WANTS AND THE OUTSIDERS AND THE SHAH IS VERY MUCH AN OUTSIDER.

THEY DON'T DO WELL WITH THEY COME BACK INTO POWER.

THINK ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO INSTALL THE GOVERNMENT IN AFGHANISTAN OR IRAQI GOVERNMENT.

EXPATS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OR SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL.

I COULD IMAGINE A REGIME CHANGE GOING VERY BAD PLACES VERY QUICKLY.

>> Jeff: IF WE DON'T WANT IT TO GO VERY BADLY VERY QUICKLY AND TURN INTO CHAOS, THAT LEAVES US WITH SOME SORT OF DEAL WITH A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY, WHETHER IT'S THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD OR THE REGULAR ARMY THERE.

AND I THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS SORT OF HINTED THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN IF THEY DIDN'T ACCIDENTALLY ALREADY KILL THAT PERSON IN THE INITIAL STRIKES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S ONE ISSUE.

AND THEN THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT TO HAVE A DEAL THAT STICKS, IRAN NEEDS TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT IT WON'T BE ATTACKED WILLIE NILLY AND IF IT SIGNS A DEAL WITH THE UNITED STATES, THAT THE RUNS OR ISRAEL FOR THAT MATTER, WON'T GO BACK ON THE DEAL.

AND BECAUSE THIS CRISIS, THIS WAR SEEMS TO HAVE ERUPTED SOMEWHAT OUT OF THE BLUE, THAT THE AMERICAN AND ISRAELI ASSAULT SEEM TO HAVE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANYTHING DRAMATIC CHANGING ON THE GROUND IN IRAN, I'M NOT SURE THAT REASSURANCE IS GOING TO BE THERE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO GET A DEAL GOING BOTH BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MISSING AND IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT THE DIPLOMATIC CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR ONE.

>> Jeff: IT'S ANOTHER OBJECT LESSON FOR REGIMES AROUND THE WORLD, THAT IT'S A GOOD THING TO HAVE YOUR OWN NUCLEAR WEAPONS, WHICH CERTAINLY NORTH KOREA DOES AND WE ARE NOT BOMBING PYONGYANG THESE DAYS.

>> YES, I THINK ONE OF THE TRAGIC LESSONS COMING OUT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE A REAL PUSH FOR OTHER COUNTRIES TO HAVE THEIR OWN NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

BOTH TO STAND UP AGAINST THE UNITED STATES SHOULD THE UNITED STATES DECIDE TO ENGAGE IN FURTHER REGIME CHANGE, FURTHER LEADERSHIP DECAPITATION STRIKES.

BUT ALSO IF WE ARE HEADING TO A NEW PERIOD WHERE GREAT POWER POLITICS ARE BACK, WHERE CHINA AND RUSSIA AND OTHERS MAY HAVE THEIR OWN INTERESTS IN PRODUCING REGIME CHANGE.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE GROWING INCENTIVES FOR SMALL AND MIDDLE SIZED POWERS LIKE IRAN AROUND THE WORLD, TO GET THEIR OWN NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO KEEP THE STRONGER POWERS AT ARM'S LENGTH.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN EMBOLDENED UNITED STATES.

MAYBE AFTER VENEZUELA, PRESIDENT TRUMP FELT A LITTLE BIT EMBOLDENED AFTER A SUCCESSFUL MILITARY ESCAPADE TO ACT, AND ACT EITHER BOLDLY OR RECKLESSLY IN IRAN.

ANYBODY IN HAVANA SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION, I GUESS.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THE SUCCESS OF THE VENEZUELA OPERATION HAS PLAYED A ROLE, AT LEAST IN THE SHORT-TERM, IN EMBOLDENING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

IF THIS CONFLICT WITH IRAN GOES WELL AND I THINK SIGNS FROM TRUMP IS THAT HE IS IMPRESSES WITH THE EARLY STAGES OF THE OPERATION.

I WOULD BE VERY CONCERNED IF I WERE IN HAVANA OR IF I WERE IN A PART OF THE WORLD THAT THE U.S.

DIDN'T HAVE GOOD RELATIONS WITH.

SO I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A PRECEDENT SETTING EVENT FOR THE UNITED STATES AND PUT OTHER COUNTRIES ON NOTICE IN A WAY THAT MAY NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO THE UNITED STATES' LONG-TERM INTERESTS.

>> JOSH, JUST TIME FOR A SENTENCE ON THIS.

THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR FIELD SECURITY SUBSTITUTEYS.

COMES DOWN TO HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS.

YOU SEE ALL THE SUFFERING, THE PEOPLE HIT BY WEAPONS, THE U.S.

SERVICE MEMBERS AFFECTED.

STA OF STABILITY IS A GOOD THING AND WE HOPE TO GET BACK TO IT SOON.

>> YES, WE LIVE IN A ERA WHERE SECURITY IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE PRESSING, WHERE CONFLICT IS MORE AND MORE PREVALENT AND WE SHOULD ALL DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO FIND PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS AND MITIGATE THE HUMAN HARM THAT CAN RESULT.

>> Jeff: PROFESSOR SHIFRINSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

WE WILL BE BACK RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION CHANGED THE WORLD.

♪ THE STORY UNFOLDS ♪ >> EVERYBODY HAD A SENSE OF POSSIBILITY WORTH FIGHTING FOR.

>> WHAT TOOK PLACE HERE STILL LEAVES US IN AWE.

♪ THIS IS WHERE IT STARTS.

♪ THIS IS WHO WE ARE ♪ >> WE CAN WORK TOWARDS EQUALITY TOGETHER.

>> WOW.

THIS IS THE MISSING PIECE.

>> INCREDIBLE.

>> TO CONFRONT THESE FIGURES FROM ANCIENT HISTORY IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE.

>> HISTORY TELLS US WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE CAME FROM AND IT'S ALL CONNECTED, LIKE LINKS IN A CHAIN.

>> YEAH, LIKE LINKS IN A CHAIN.

>> ALL I CAN DO IS SAY THANK YOU.

WOW.

THIS IS PHENOMENAL.

>> I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS.

♪ WHO WE ARE ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING, I'M JEFF BENEFIT... >> AND I'M MARGARET HOOVER.

>> BRING US UP TO SPEED.

>> ISRAEL IS VOWING SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

>> DID YOU GET A COMMITMENT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP?

>> WE HAVE TO WORK ON IT.

>> WHEN THAT STORY IS TOLD, IT WILL BE EASIER FOR US TO SEE EACH OTHER LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE US.

>> TODAY WE LIVE IN A TIME WHEN MEANINGFUL DISCOURSE IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER.

>> IS THIS JUST STIE AT THE END OF THE DAY, VERY SMART POLITICS.

>> IT'S IN A NEVER COMPROMISE ON THE ACCURACY.

THIS IS THE STORY OF ONE OR MORE.

HOW IT IS FOUGHT AND HOW IT IS CHANGE CHANGING US.

>> IF THIS IS THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO START BREAKING THE ICE, THEN LET'S DO IT.

>> Jeff: JOINING US NOW IS THE STATE'S ATTORNEY FOR BALTIMORE CITY, IVAN BATES.

Mr.

INCUBATES THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: A COUPLE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.

TO BEGIN THE STATE SENATE THIS WEEK IS GOING TO BE CONSIDERING A BILL THAT WILL CHANGE WHEN SOME JUVENILE SUSPECTS ARE CHARGED AS ADULTS.

TO BEGIN, MAYBE FILL US IN ON WHAT THE CURRENT PRACTICE IS.

>> YES, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.

RIGHT NOW IF A JUVENILE HAS A HAND GUN, IS PURCHASING OR SELLING A HAND GUN, BEATS SOMEONE UP SEVERELY AS A FIRST DEGREE ASSAULT, ALL THOSE CASES START IN THE ADULT SYSTEM.

EVENTUALLY THE JUVENILE WOULD GO AND TALK ABOUT WHY THE CASE SHOULD GO TO THE JUVENILE COURT.

THE ATTORNEY WOULD FILE PAPERWORK.

AND AFTER GOING BEFORE A JUDGE, LISTENING TO THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION, THAT JUDGE WOULD MAKE A DECISION WHETHER OR NOT FOR THAT CASE TO BE TRIED IN THE JUVENILE COURT.

AND THEN THE HOPE AND GOAL WOULD BE THAT THE JUVENILE WOULD RECEIVE SERVICES.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND OUT THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY WHAT IS GOING ON IN TERMS OF SERVICES.

MY OFFICE PUT TOGETHER A BOOKLET WHERE WE LOOK AT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM HERE IN BALTIMORE CITY AND WE WERE ASTONISHED AT SOME OF THE FAILURES WE WERE ABLE TO FIND AND SEE.

>> Jeff: IN TERMS OF WHO GOES TO ADULT COURT, IT'S THE COMBINATION OF THE AGE OF THE DEFENDANT AND THE SEVERITY OF THEY OFFENSE.

IT DOESN'T CONSIDER WHETHER THE PERSON HAS PRIORS?

>> WELL,IT DOES AND IT DOESN'T, ONLY IN THE SENSE THAT'S THE WAIVER OR TRANSFER.

YES, YOU ARE CORRECT.

DEPENDING ON THE AGE OF THE JUVENILE, AND DEPENDING ON THE ACTUAL OFFENSE WILL DEPEND ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT JUVENILE WILL START IN ADULT OR JUVENILE COURT.

AND UNDER THE NEW LAW, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IT'S THE SAME THING.

NOW IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE JUVENILE RECORD IS, FOUR OR FIVE PRIOR HAND GUN CONVICTIONS, IF THEY'RE JUVENILE, THERE CASE WILL START IN THE JUVENILE COURT BY POSSESSING THAT HAND GUN.

>> Jeff: SO HOW WILL THIS BILL THAT HAS NOW CLEARED THE SENATE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE CHANGE THE CURRENT SYSTEM?

>> WE THINK IT IS GOING TO CHANGE IT FOR THE WORST.

; WE WERE ABLE TO FIND OUT AND ONCE AGAIN WE PUT TOGETHER A BOOKLET THAT SAYS THAT.

GO TO OUR WEB SITE STATTORNEY.ORG.

YOU CAN FIND OUR FINDINGS IN THE BOOKLET.

A NUMBER OF THE CASES IN THE JUVENILE COURT, THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND CAN'T HANDLE ANYMORE.

WHAT PEOPLE DON'T ALES IS ALL 24 STATES ATTORNEYS AROUND THE ENTIRE STATE, WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GIVE MORE TO A BROKEN SYSTEM.

FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THAT IN THE PAST YEAR, THE JUDGES HAVE ISSUED 150 SHOW CAUSE ORDERS AGAINST THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

A SHOW CAUSE ORDER MEANS SOMETHING IS WRONG, THE JUDGE WANTS THE PUBLIC DEFENDER TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING.

HERE THERE IS SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE SYSTEM, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH ATTORNEYS OR OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO HANDLE THE CASES SO THE SYSTEM IS ALREADY OVERRUN, IT'S ALREADY BROKEN AND THE JUDGES ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING.

ALSO PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THERE ARE SO MANY CASES IN THE SYSTEM, WHEN A CASE STARTS TO HAPPEN AS A TRIAL BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE THREE TO FOUR MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT TO EVENTUALLY EVEN HAVE YOUR CASE ARRAIGNED, MEANING YOU ARE BEING TOLD AND FORMER ALLIE CHARGE WHAT THE CHARGE IS IN THE JUVENILE COURT BECAUSE THEY'RE SO BACKED UP.

IT THEN TAKES ANOTHER THREE TO FOUR MONTHS FOR THE YOUNG PERSON TO GET AN ATTORNEY AND THAT'S WHY THE JUDGE HAS A SHOW CAUSE ORDER TO FIND OUT WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG TO GET AN ATTORNEY.

THEN THE CASE IS POSTPONED.

FINALLY YOU HAVE A TRIAL AND IF THERE ARE EIGHT OR NINE WITNESSES, THE FIRST TRIAL DATE IS ONLY AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GO TO TRIAL.

THAT CAUSES ANOTHER TWO OR THREE ADDITIONAL POSTPONEMENTS.

IT IS TAKING A YEAR SOMETIMES A YEAR AND A HALF TO HAVE THE CASES TRIED.

BY THAT TIME THE YOUNG PERSON HASN'T RECEIVED SERVICES AND THE YOUNG PERSON ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE SEEING PICKING UP TWO OR THREE ADDITIONAL NEW CHARGES.

SO THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN.

CAN WE STOP AND FIX THE SYSTEM?

CAN WE MAKE THE CHANGES?

WE ARE NOT JUST SAYING THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN.

THERE WAS A REPORT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD THAT WAS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OWN OMBUDSMAN THAT LOOKED AND REVIEWED THE JUVENILE SYSTEM AND SAID THE JUVENILE SYSTEM WAS BROKEN AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF JUVENILE FACILITIES THAT HAVE A NUMBER OF SERIOUS ISSUES AND DAMAGES.

PROSECUTORS FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND HAVE SAID WE CAN NEVER HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THEIR CASES START IN THE JUVENILE SYSTEM.

WE ARE SAYING THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN.

WE NEED TO FIX THE SYSTEM SO THAT WE ARE NOT PUTTING BROKEN CHILDREN IN A BROKEN SYSTEM TO COME OUT NOT FEELING ANY LOVE, CARE OR SUPPORT.

WE ARE SAYING LET'S FIX THE SYSTEM SO OUR CHILDREN HAVE A CHANCE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> Jeff: THE BILL'S SPONSOR IS WILL SMITH, THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE.

HE SAID THAT THESE CASES WIND UP IN THE JUVENILE SYSTEM ANYWAY AND WE ARE JUST WAISTING TIME STARTING IN ADULT COURT.

IS THERE ANYTHING TO THAT?

>> LOOK, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED IN SENATOR SMITH.

THE LAST FRIDAY, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION, WE HAD A SCHEDULED MEETING WITH SENATOR SMITH AND WE WANTED TO TALK AND PUSH BACK ON THAT NARRATIVE.

ONCE AGAIN IN OUR BOOK WE FOUND OUT THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS SENDING 55% OF THE CASES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BACK TO THE JUVENILE SYSTEM.

THAT, WHEN WE GAVE A YOUNG PERSON A CHANCE, WE SAW WITHIN 18 MONTHS, 30 TO 35% OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE VIOLATING AND WINDING RIGHT BACK UP IN THE ADULT SYSTEM.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, IT'S ALMOST TWO TO ONE.

WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM.

WHAT IS SO DISAPPOINTING, LAST FRIDAY WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A MEETING WITH SENATOR SMITH AND WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO TALK AND ARTICULATE OUR POSITION WITH THE SENATOR.

FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE SENATOR IT CANCEL THE MEETING AND HELD A VOTE WITHOUT LISTENING TO US.

IT WAS CLEAR TO US THAT THE SENATOR DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR WHAT WE HAD TO SAY AND THAT HE WANTS TO DO WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

AND THAT'S FINE; HOWEVER, WE ARE HERE AS PROSECUTORS.

OUR JOB IS TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR JOB IS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

AND WHEN HAVE YOU 24 PROSECUTORS SAYING THAT THE WAY YOU ARE LOOKING AT THIS BILL, THE WAY YOU ARE STRUCTURING THIS BILL AND THE INFORMATION THAT YOU ARE ESPOUSING TO THE COMMUNITY IS NOT NECESSARILY FACTUAL OR TRUTHFUL, THEREFORE LET'S HOLD UP AND WORK ON THIS TOGETHER, WHEN YOU DECIDE THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, THEN YOU'VE MADE A CHOICE THAT YOU JUST DON'T CARE WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY AS PROSECUTORS AND THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU WISH TO DO.

THAT'S HIS CHOICE; HOWEVER, AS PROSECUTORS WE FEEL THAT THIS IS POTENTIALLY COULD BE DANGEROUS TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED THE LONG RUNNING PROBLEMS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES.

THERE IS A NEW SECRETARY THERE, JUST CONFIRMED.

SHE HAS BEEN ON THE JOB ABOUT SIX MONTHS IN AN ACTING ROLE.

WHAT ARE THE TOP THINGS-- WHAT ARE THE IMMEDIATE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDRESSED?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ONE, WE RECOGNIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES HAS JUST BEEN ABSOLUTELY DEMORALIZED AND DESTROYED.

VERY SIMILAR TO WHEN I TOOK OVER THE BALTIMORE CITY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

WHAT I REALIZED IS THAT IT TAKES TIME TO FIX THE CULTURE IN THE OFFICE.

AND SO NOW WITH MORE CASES AND MORE INFORMATION, MORE THINGS TO DO IS NOT NECESSARILY A GOOD THING TO HAVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW, JUST TWO YEARS AGO, IN 2022, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MADE CHANGES VERY SIMILAR TO THIS AND IN 2024, THEY CHANGED IT.

WHILE THE NEW SECRETARY WAS ONE OF THE CATALYSTS OF THE 2022 MATERIAL.

OF THE 2022 LEGISLATION.

AND WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT PROCESS, THEN IT HAS TO MAKE ONE WONDER, LIKE, OKAY, YOU ARE COMING BACK AND IS THIS REALLY WHAT YOU WANT TO DO?

IT'S VERY CONCERNING TO US BECAUSE WE LOOK AND WE SEE THAT D.J.C.S.

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS AND ISSUES INVOLVING FUNDING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH WE AGREE.

HOWEVER, THERE IS A BILL CALLED SIGHT AND SOUND AND THE SIGHT AND SOUND BILL SAYS LET'S TAKE THREE YEARS TO MAKE A CHANGE.

TO MAKE SURE WHAT DOES SIGHT AND SOUND MEANS.

IT MEANS EVERY SINGLE JUVENILE CAN NO LONGER BE HOUSED IN A ADULT FACILITY BECAUSE IT'S AGAINST THE LAW.

WELL, THAT'S FINE.

BUT WHY ARE WE GOING TO TAKE THREE YEARS TO DO THAT BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE TIME NECESSARY TO FIX THE JUVENILE SYSTEM?

WE MET WITH THE NEW SECRETARY IN JUNE, MEANING ALL 24 STATES ATTORNEYS.

BACK IN NOVEMBER.

ALL 24 STATES ATTORNEYS.

AND WE THOUGHT WE WERE BEING ABLE TO HAVE A REAL FRUITFUL DISCUSSION ABOUT HAVING A HAND GUN, FIRST TIME OFFENDERS ONLY, WHO HAVE NO RECORD, NO CHARGES, ONE-TIME OFFENSE, WOULD COME TO THE JUVENILE SYSTEM.

BUT THERE WERE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE ASKED FROM THE SECRETARY.

AND WE JUST NEVER REALLY HEARD BACK FROM HER ABOUT THE THINGS WE WANTED.

SO WE ARE A LITTLE PERPLEXED, MEANING THE PROSECUTORS ACROSS THE STATE BECAUSE WE WANT TO WORK AND BE PART OF D.J.S.

WE DIDN'T HEAR BACK FROM THE SECRETARY.

WE HAD HER IN MEETINGS.

WE HAD OUR JUVENILE COMMITTEES BUT SHE NEVER REALLY ADDRESSED QUOTE UNQUOTE THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM WITH THE ISSUE WE FELT MOST IMPORTANT AS PROSECUTORS.

MOST IMPORTANT-- NOT JUST TO US-- WE LOOK AT THE POLLING.

THE POLLING SAYS ALMOST 70% OF THE CITIZENS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, THEY DON'T LIKE THIS.

THEY DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.

IT WAS INTERESTING.

I WAS ON TOM HALL ABOUT A WEEK AGO, AND I BROUGHT THIS SAME ISSUE UP.

HE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND SAID OH MY GOODNESS.

84, 86% OF THE PEOPLE POLLED IN TWO SAID IF YOU ARE 14 YEARS OF AGE AND YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE A MURDER, THAT OR 15 YEARS OF AGE AND YOU DO A MURDER, THAT THEY EXPECT THAT PERSON TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

I TOOK THAT TO MEAN THAT WHAT THE RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND ARE SAYING IF YOUNG PEOPLE DO ADULT ACTION, THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

WE ARE SAYING WE SHOULD HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

BUT WHAT DOES ACCOUNTABILITY LOOK LIKE?

DOES IT MEAN JUST GOING TO A JUVENILE SYSTEM OVERBURDENED DOESN'T HAVE THE PROGRAMS OR SERVICES OR DOES IT MEAN LET'S FIRST WORK TOGETHER, EVERYBODY, THE EXPERTS IN THE SYSTEM, FIX THE SYSTEM AND THEN WE CAN HOLD OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFER GLRNLG.

>> Jeff: I WANT TO FOCUS IN ON BALTIMORE CITY A BIT.

WHICH HAS GOOD NEWS.

BIG REDUCTION IN THE VIOLENT CRIME, PARTICULARLY THE HOMICIDE RATE.

THEY SAY VICTORY HAS 100 FATHERS AND THE MAYOR IS CLAIMING CREDIT.

THE POLICE CLAIMING CREDIT FOR THIS.

HOW ABOUT THE PROSECUTOR?

>> WELL, LOOK, NO ONE PERSON OR ONE GROUP CAN CLAIM CREDIT.

IT WAS A TOTAL COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

I THINK WHEN I CAME IN IN 2022, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I THINK THE MAYOR WAS HERE IN 2022.

THERE WERE 342 MURDERS.

SO THE ONE THING THAT CHANGED WAS THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

WHEN WE CAME TO THE STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THERE WERE 140 PROSECUTORS.

REMEMBER, I SAID IT TAKES TIME TO CHANGE THE CULTURE AND THE NARRATIVE.

WE HAD TO HIRE AND TRAIN NEW PROSECUTORS.

WE HAD TO DEVELOP CLOSER WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH NOT ONLY WITH THE LOCAL BPD, POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS.

IT WAS WORKING TOGETHER, COLLABORATIVELY, HAVING EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE AND FINALLY HAVING PROSECUTORS WHO ARE SKILLED ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE MORE VIOLENT CRIMES THAT WE COULD MAKE CHANGES.

WHEN I CAME IN, WE SAID THERE WERE ABOUT 6,000 VIOLENT OFFENDERS OUT THERE THAT ARE PULLING TRIGGERS OR THAT ARE RUNNING AROUND REPEAT VIOLENT OFFENDERS.

IF WE CAN GET THEM OFF THE STREETS,... WE HAVE NOW REMOVED AT LEAST 3,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VIOLENT REPEAT OFFENDERS FROM THE COMMUNITY JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE FELONS CARRYING GUNS.

WE REMOVED ANOTHER 600 TO 700 WHO WERE MURDERERS AND GOT THEM OFF THE STREETS AND WE HAVE SET ANOTHER 300 TO THE FEDERAL SIDE.

THAT'S 4,000 OF THE ALMOST 6,000 INDIVIDUALS REMOVED OFF THE STREETS.

WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER-- WHEN YOU REMOVE THOSE SHOOTERS AND KILLERS OFF THE STREET, OF COURSE THE CRIME RATE AND MURDER RATE GOES DOWN.

WE DON'T MAKE THE PROSECUTORS HIVE OR THE ARRESTS.

WE SUPPORT.

>> Jeff: FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY, INTERVENTION, VIOLENCE, PREVENTION, A LITTLE BIT OF A GOOD COP-BAD COP THING GOING ON HERE.

CAN YOU SAY THAT HIS APPROACH IS WORKING OR NOT WORKING?

>> WELL, LOOK I THINK OBVIOUSLY HIS APPROACH IS UNIQUE.

IT'S NEW.

I THINK THERE IS DEFINITELY SOME GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT.

SOME THINGS WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN ALL THE INFORMATION OR THE DATA.

HOWEVER, SOMETHING DEFINITELY IS WORKING SO OF COURSE YOU WANT TO SHARE CREDIT WITH EVERYBODY BECAUSE ONCE YOU SAID A THOUSAND FILERS, IT IS GOING WELL.

THIS IS HIS BABY, ARCHITECTS OF THAT.

I THINK IF WE COULD SEE THINGS A LITTLE MORE, HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH SOME INTERACTION, IT WOULD BE EASIER TO SAY HEY, WE WERE ABLE TO DO A, B, C AND D. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED AS LONG AS THIS IS HAPPENING AND IT'S WORKING, IT'S WORKING AND WE ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP ALL THE RESIDENTS OF BALTIMORE CITY SAFE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, HISTORY DOESN'T CARE WHO WAS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS IN THE SEAT OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY OR MAYOR.

WHAT HISTORY CARES ABOUT IS THE NUMBER.

UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS 133 THIS YEARS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE IT'S LOWER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN BUT THAT'S STILL 133 INDIVIDUALS THAT LOST THEIR LIFE.

WE HAVE TO WORK EVERY DAY TO TRY TO GET THAT NUMBER AS LOW AS POSSIBLE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO IS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, WHO IS IN PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME CAR.

>> Jeff: IVAN BATES, STATE'S ATTORNEY FOR BALTIMORE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING AT 7 CLOCK.

YOU CAN VIEW PAST EDITIONS OF THE PROGRAM AT VIDEO AND ON THE FREE PBS APP.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.