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Aisha Braveboy and Ivan Bates, Democratic prosecutors who represent two of Maryland鈥檚 largest jurisdictions, held a joint press conference Thursday in Annapolis to unveil legislative priorities for the upcoming General Assembly session.
Braveboy, state鈥檚 attorney for Prince George鈥檚 County, and Bates, state鈥檚 attorney for Baltimore, summarized those at Lawyers鈥� Mall and in a glossy pamphlet: public safety enhancements, juvenile justice reform, criminal justice reform and restorative justice reform and community resources.
Both prosecutors said they want people who are charged with serious crimes to receive tough but fair sentences. They also want to provide those who are incarcerated with resources to be rehabilitated and to become productive citizens when they are released.
鈥淏ut it all starts with accountability,鈥� said Braveboy, a former state delegate who represented the county鈥檚 25th legislative district. 鈥淲e believe that there is an appetite here in Annapolis for change.鈥�
One of the main topics in Maryland has been , with some prosecutors, lawmakers and law enforcement officials saying that 聽and other measures passed by lawmakers last year haven鈥檛 helped reduce crime.
The state Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) report from September shows non-fatal shootings for youth ages 18 and younger increased from 41 in 2013 to 171 in 2022. During that time, homicides escalated from 29 in 2013 to 47 in 2022.
One juvenile reform proposed by the two state鈥檚 attorneys Thursday would extend the probationary period. A pamphlet they distributed Thursday morning said they wanted to extend the probationary period from six months to 18 months for juveniles guilty of a firearm misdemeanor. Thursday evening they issued a press release stating they advocate extending that probationary period to two years. For juveniles found guilty of committing a violent felony, probation would be lengthened from two years to a maximum of four years.
The state鈥檚 attorneys said this would give juveniles additional time to complete any rehabilitation programs.
In a memo last month, Sen. Ron Watson (D-Prince George鈥檚) said he plans to sponsor a juvenile justice reform bill that would also extend probationary periods. Instead of six months on probation for a juvenile guilty of a firearm misdemeanor, Watson proposes extending probation to two years. For a juvenile found guilty of a felony or a crime involving a firearm, Watson proposes extending probation to a period of up to five years.
Braveboy and Bates are proposing a tweak to the passed last year. The act allows juveniles who are taken into custody, interrogated, or charged with a criminal offense to consult with a lawyer in-person or by phone. Braveboy and Bates want to eliminate the phone option and allow that consultation to take place “solely” in person.
Watson to allow a parent to waive the requirement that a child must first speak to an attorney before talking with law enforcement. His proposal also would permit a child to decline speaking with a law enforcement representative and to speak with a lawyer instead.
But Sen. Jill Carter (D-Baltimore), who sponsored the reform bills, said last week at the Maryland Association of Counties winter conference that everyone involved, including juveniles, needs to understand the law, and that children who are arrested need to understand their rights.
Meanwhile, the state鈥檚 attorneys are supporting a measure that Del. Nicole Williams (D-Prince George鈥檚) next year. It would allow state鈥檚 attorneys to file a motion in court 鈥渁t any time鈥� to modify the sentence of a person who is incarcerated.
Under current law, Braveboy said, this must be done within the first five years of a person鈥檚 sentence.
Another request from the state鈥檚 attorneys is streamlining the process for families to receive money for funeral expenses of loved ones who are victims of crime. The fund is administered by the , but Braveboy said it could take families up to a year or longer to get paid.
A few other proposed legislative priorities highlighted Thursday include creating a registry of those convicted of domestic violence and a $500,000 budget request to fund the Prince George鈥檚 County State鈥檚 Attorney鈥檚 Office’s Emerging Adult Program which helps those ages 18 to 26, who are currently incarcerated or on parole or probation, to participate in counseling, job training and other programs.
鈥淲e feel that we have a legislative package that is fair,鈥� Bates said. 鈥淲e ask the legislature to really listen to the community, so we can all work together to have a safer state [and] to make our communities safer.鈥�
The 90-day legislative session in Annapolis begins Jan. 10.
