Baltimore City State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein's recent comments about Maryland's juvenile justice system are disturbing and woefully out of sync with current best practices in juvenile justice ("Bernstein: juvenile justice system is 'not good'," June 1).

There should be consequences for youth who commit criminal offenses, but they need to be based on what research tells us about adolescent development and what does and doesn't work with juvenile offenders.

We know, for instance, that for the majority of youth incarceration isn't the answer. Maryland cannot afford, in monetary or human terms, to continue to lock up and throw away our youth.

I would invite Mr. Bernstein to join with advocates, the Department of Juvenile Services, families and communities to work on juvenile justice reform that will ensure community safety and assist youth in becoming productive members of society.

Shelley Tinney, Columbia

The writer is executive director of the Maryland Association of Resources for Families and Youth.