Criminal justice reform and public safety are not in contradiction of each other – they are co-dependent. As Chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, I have passed significant legislation to hold violent offenders accountable. I have also led our state’s efforts on youth justice, parole reform, police accountability, and reentry – efforts which have led to better public safety outcomes, and a more equitable criminal justice system.
I worked tirelessly to pass the Justice Reinvestment Act of 2016, which changed the criminal justice system in Maryland by repealing minimum mandatory sentences for certain nonviolent drug crimes and focusing on treatment rather than incarceration for nonviolent offenders.
During the 2016 legislative session, I worked with our Attorney General, Brian Frosh, to ensure we implemented real bail reform premised on the notion we should have one justice system in our state – not one for the rich and one for the economically disadvantaged.