This evening, starting at 7pm!

🌟 Big thanks to UBalt Law Center for Criminal Justice Reform, ROARUMB, MDNetworkAgainstDV, The HAVI, Office of Crime Prevention & Policy, & No Struggle, No Success for their invaluable support and collaboration on advocating for the CICB bill! Together, we're making strides in justice reform and community empowerment. #crimevictims #reform 2/

Breaking: Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) calls out MD DPSCS over conditions at MRDCC, a Baltimore detention facility. People incarcerated there were forced to stay in cells with 'unflushed excrement,' sinks ran brown, had to use portable toilets in handcuffs, PDs say
thebaltimorebanner.com/community/crim…

Official photos from the bill signing of HB 531, ending parole fees & fees for alcohol and drug testing for returning citizens in Maryland. We had too many leaders there to celebrate for one photo. Thank you Governor Wes Moore Bill Ferguson Speaker Adrienne A. Jones for your support!

We’ll post official photos soon! Also thanks Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) Heather Warnken UBalt Law Center for Criminal Justice Reform Institute for Justice and other allies. A good day for Maryland!

Today is a good day to bump up this op-Ed from our friend Heather Warnken and Alex Piquero in the The Baltimore Sun explaining the many reasons HB814 is misguided.

This is ridiculous.

In the state which already had the highest over-incarceration of Black residents in the country, this shameful stat has reached a new high. Black people make up 72.4% of the state prison population, but less than a third of Maryland's population overall.

marylandmatters.org/2024/04/17/as-…

It was straight reprehensible that the legislature did not pass The Second Look Act in the 2024 session. 💯 (passed the senate unanimously but was killed by the house)

This is a jaw dropping story. NYC’s attorneys, obligated to report settlements and judgments against the NYPD, failed to report $1.2 billion in payouts over a 10 year period. Approximately half of the total payouts during that period.

cityandstateny.com/policy/2024/04…

Asking residents whether the criminal legal system is “tough enough” reinforces the idea that more punitive responses are the most effective way to deliver public safety (they’re not). These Qs aren’t supported by the research. Let’s evolve to ask whether our systems are working.

HB814 passed the House and Senate, but Governor Moore can still veto the bill and ensure that Maryland focused on solutions that actually make our communities safer and don't harm vulnerable kids.
Fill out the action alert to tell Moore to veto HB814 @
act.advancemaryland.org/letter/2024-HB…

Tomorrow 4/18: please join Maryland Youth Justice Coalition & numerous partners for a rally in Annapolis calling on Gov. Wes Moore to veto HB 814 for all the reasons below. This legislation was a response to a crime perception problem, not supported by data, and will not keep our communities safe.

Exactly. Enough for what? The question implies that 'enough' toughness would deter crime. All evidence says it doesn't.

Asking residents whether the criminal legal system is “tough enough” reinforces the idea that more punitive responses are the most effective way to deliver public safety (they’re not). These Qs aren’t supported by the research. Let’s evolve to ask whether our systems are working.

Thanks to ⁦Alex Piquero⁩ and my friend, ⁦Heather Warnken⁩ ⁦UBalt Law Center for Criminal Justice Reform⁩ for this important piece in the ⁦The Baltimore Sun.⁩ Gov. Wes Moore⁩, we can do better for our kids. Veto HB814! baltimoresun.com/2024/04/09/gov…

So…this juvenile justice reform bill that lawmakers passed & awaits Governor Wes Moore signature (or veto)…does the data support it? Not so fast. As Heather Warnken & I wrote in The Baltimore Sun — baltimoresun.com/2024/04/09/gov…

Aubrey Edwards-Luce and I explained why Ivan Bates - Baltimore City State's Attorney's proposal to hold parents 'accountable' is misguided and harmful in the The Baltimore Banner and on Midday with Tom Hall. 🧵

“The governor has repeatedly committed to being data-driven and heart-led, and no one in Maryland deserves this more than our kids.”

ICYMI, OpEd laying out the reasons Gov. Wes Moore should veto HB 814. Alex Piquero Heather Warnken University of Baltimore School of Law Maryland Youth Justice Coalition Maryland Office of the Public Defender (MOPD) ACLU of Maryland

It’s not too late to prevent the harmful, reactionary parts of HB 814 from going into law. Gov. Wes Moore has the power of the pen.

“The governor has repeatedly committed to being data-driven and heart-led, and no one in Maryland deserves this more than our kids.” Maryland Youth Justice Coalition