(a) The Department is the central administrative department for: (1) juvenile intake, detention authorization, community detention, investigation, probation, protective supervision, predelinquent diversion services, and aftercare services; and (2) the State juvenile diagnostic, training, detention, and rehabilitation institutions. (b) The Department shall: (1) develop programs for predelinquent children whose behavior tends to lead to contact with law enforcement agencies; (2) promote predelinquent programs, including greater utilization of youth services bureaus under § 9–234 of this subtitle, that provide services to divert children from the juvenile justice system; (3) collaborate with local governments to encourage the use of predelinquent programs provided by youth services bureaus under § 9–234 of this subtitle in response to identified community needs; and (4) provide technical assistance to local governments and youth services bureaus under § 9–234 of this subtitle to identify alternative funding sources for predelinquent programs.
Maryland Legal Code