Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has directed the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) to immediately develop and implement a pilot program in Montgomery County and Baltimore City targeting youth involved in motor vehicle thefts.
The October 13 directive calls for a rapid, coordinated response to youth-involved vehicle thefts in the two jurisdictions, which Moore said are experiencing the highest increases in motor vehicle thefts compared to 2025.
The program will establish a mechanism to immediately identify children who engage in, or are considered at elevated risk for, motor vehicle theft. Intervention will involve the child and family, along with social service providers and local law enforcement partners.
DJS has also been directed to use the existing “Youth of Concern” interagency meeting structure to connect identified youth with prevention efforts.
A second component of the directive calls for the immediate development of a specialized early-intervention pathway for younger children, particularly those involved in stolen vehicle incidents or related circumstances who cannot be formally charged in criminal cases.
DJS will work with local law enforcement, social workers and school personnel to identify those children and provide targeted support services. The effort will also include youth displaying concerning behaviors before formal charges arise.
“Public safety is my top priority and I am concerned by the recent frequency of motor vehicle thefts involving youth and young children,” Moore wrote in the directive. “Most tragically recent incidents have resulted in severe injuries and fatalities across our communities.”
Moore said the state “cannot wait for a tragic crash to be the first point of meaningful intervention” and must work to interrupt the behavior before additional lives are lost.
In the longer term, Moore directed DJS to explore adapting a program similar to the Ramsey County Youth Auto Theft Intervention Project in St. Paul, Minnesota. That model pairs a dedicated law enforcement team with community navigators and other individuals who engage with high-risk youth and their families. The effort would build upon DJS’s existing Thrive initiative framework.
The directive follows Moore’s May 2026 Safe Summer Directive, which focused on strengthening coordination between state agencies to reduce youth violence.
DJS has been instructed to provide an initial status report to Deputy Chief of Staff Travis Nelson by December 1. The directive took effect October 13 and will remain in effect until further notice.
