In the face of strong opposition from criminal justice reform advocates, Maryland Governor Wes Moore is scheduled to sign a bill on Thursday morning that aims to toughen the state’s juvenile justice system.

“The goal we’re looking for is accountability…and I think this bill does that,” Governor Moore stated last week, defending the legislation.

The new measure expands the list of charges that can be brought against juveniles as young as 10 to 12 years old. Offenses now included are handgun violations, third-degree sexual assault, and aggravated animal cruelty. Previously, such serious crimes often went uncharged for perpetrators in this young age group.

Additionally, the bill grants judges expanded authority to extend probationary periods for juvenile offenders beyond the current six-month maximum duration when deemed necessary.

However, the reforms appear to directly contradict the absurd philosophy espoused by Maryland’s own Juvenile Justice Services Secretary, Vincent Schiraldi. Just last month, Schiraldi gave a speech to Harvard Law students calling for the complete abolition of probation for juveniles.

When questioned about the new legislation in Baltimore last week, Schiraldi declined to outright endorse whether the changes would effectively hold young offenders accountable, stating: “I think there’s way more than legislation that will do that. We have to administer this department in a way that holds them accountable and holds us accountable.”