Months Missing: The Tristan King Case Shows How the System Failed a Child
Tristan King, a nine-year-old boy missing for nearly six months in Baltimore, was ultimately found alive, raising serious concerns about systemic failures in child welfare. Despite multiple agencies' involvement, gaps in communication and oversight…
HB 942 and the Illusion of Enforcement
Maryland's HB 942 aims to criminalize custody order interference, acknowledging its serious impact on families. However, it faces challenges with enforcement, as law enforcement and courts may still prioritize discretion over accountability. True reform…
Maryland’s Most Vulnerable: The Children Who Died While Systems Failed
Since January 2023, Maryland has reported 140–150 child maltreatment fatalities, highlighting urgent failures in the child welfare system. Despite no dramatic spikes in fatalities, the numbers remain above the national average. Effective reform requires…
Steny Hoyer Retires — And the ADA Legacy That Defined His Career
Steny Hoyer's legacy in Congress is primarily linked to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, which he helped champion as a chief sponsor. The ADA transformed access and inclusion for millions of people with disabilities, although…
Maryland’s Outdated Wiretap Law Is Hurting Victims — And 2026 May Finally Bring Change
Maryland's outdated two-party consent wiretap law impedes victims of domestic violence from recording crucial evidence of abuse, protecting manipulators instead. As lawmakers prepare to revisit the law in 2026, proposed updates aim to align it with…
Idaho Just Drew the Blueprint to Fix Maryland’s Broken Custody Courts. Will Annapolis Follow?
Idaho's bipartisan task force presented a comprehensive custody-court reform package after extensive hearings, emphasizing efficiency and low cost. Maryland could adopt this model, which includes a 30-day limit on temporary custody orders, mandatory…
Maryland’s Missing Foster Children: What the Numbers Reveal
The Maryland Department of Human Services has revealed that 990 children in foster care have been missing since 2020, following an MPIA request by advocates. Policy changes obscured the distinction between runaways and missing children, raising concerns…