While the City of Baltimore has been plagued with violent crime for quite some time now, throughout the past several years, both crime and homicide rates have become nearly unfathomable.[1] In 2019 alone, Baltimore City saw 348 homicides; its worst homicide rate in history on a per capita basis.[2] In response to this surge in violence, lawmakers at both the city and state level have recently made addressing crime in Baltimore City one of their top priorities.[3]

Earlier this year, Governor Larry Hogan (“Hogan”) implemented emergency legislation that was initially constructed to be a $21 million dollar crime-reduction package.[4] However, on January 20, 2020, four bills included in Hogan’s crime-reduction package were prematurely introduced to the Maryland General Assembly.[5] These bills include the Judicial Transparency Act, the Violent Firearm Offenders Act, the Witness Intimidation Prevention Act, and the Victims’ Right to Restitution Act.[6] Just this month, it was made public that all four legislative bills did in fact pass the Senate.[7] With their passing, the bills will publish sentencing records for judges in violent crime cases annually, prohibit trial courts from releasing defendant’s charged with firearm-related crimes prior to the start of trial, increase sentences for gang members who illegally carry guns, and crack down on those who intimidate witnesses through either physical injury or death.[8]

In addition to directly targeting criminals and aiding victims, these bills give Hogan the authority to act.[9] If the number of homicides reach three per 100,000 within the span of one month, Hogan now has the authority to declare a state of emergency in Baltimore City.[10] Hogan also holds the discretion to call in and make use of numerous law enforcement agencies.[11] Such agencies include, but are not limited to, the Maryland State police, the Maryland Transportation Authority police, the Maryland Transit Administration police, and the Department of General Services police.[12] With the rise of violent crime and homicides in Baltimore City, Hogan is hopeful that the use of these resources will make up for the shortage of police officers currently employed by the city’s police department.[13]

Although the bill package sounds logistical on its face, not all committees and public officials are placing their faith in its effectiveness for producing long-term change in Baltimore City.[14] Those questioning Hogan’s “tough on crime” stance assert that the passage of these bills undermines the city’s ability to use educational tactics to combat its increasing homicide rate.[15] Skeptics of these bills affirmatively believe that addressing crime entails using the appropriate funds to train law enforcement on how to effectively patrol crime-ridden neighborhoods, as well as developing more economic and mental health resources that are likely the underlying causes of such crime.[16]

Meghan McDonald is a third-year evening student at the University of Baltimore School of Law and an Associate Editor for Law Forum. Meghan graduated from Towson University in May 2016. Since then, she has been working full-time as a paralegal at Timothy A. Dachille & Associates in Baltimore City, where she handles personal injury cases that go to civil litigation. Meghan will graduate in December 2020 and will continue to work in the litigation field.

[1] CBS News, Baltimore nears record homicide rate as violence surges (Dec. 26, 2019, 12:59 PM) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/baltimore-murder-rate-nears-record-high-as-violence-surges/.

[2] Id.

[3] Governor Hogan Redesignates Violent Crime Bills as Emergency Legislation, Calls on Lawmakers to Take Immediate Action, The Office Governor Larry Hogan, https://governor.maryland.gov/2020/02/20/governor-hogan-redesignates-violent-crime-bills-as-emergency-legislation-calls-on-lawmakers-to-take-immediate-action/.

[4] CBS Baltimore, Bills Designated to Combat Violent Crime Introduced In Maryland Assembly (Jan. 20, 2020, 9:28 PM) https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2020/01/20/bills-designed-to-combat-violent-crime-introduced-in-maryland-general-assembly/.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.

[7] Luke Broadwater, Maryland Senate passes anti-crime package, including aspects of Gov. Hogan’s Violent Firearms Offenders Act, The Baltimore Sun (Mar. 10, 2020) https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-crime-bills-20200310-w5o4xaqrfneatl3z7a7fmtwxua-story.html.

[8] S.B. 272, 441st Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (Md. 2020); see also S.B. 273, 441st Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (Md. 2020); see also S.B. 271, 441st Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (Md. 2020); see also S.B. 268, 441st Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (Md. 2020).

[9] Sean Streicher, Republican-Backed Md. Bill Targets Baltimore Crime, Would Allow Hogan To Declare State of Emergency, CBS Baltimore (Mar. 3, 2020, 9:37 PM) https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2020/03/03/baltimore-crime-state-of-emergency-bill-latest/

[10] Id.

[11] Id.

[12] Id.

[13] Id.

[14] Supra, note 4.

[15] Id.

[16] Supra, note 9.