New laws would create and evaluate the Commission to review and assess the racial differences in criminal judiciary

By Tashi McQueen
Afro Staff author
tmcqueen@afro.com

The defense lawyer of Maryland, Natasha Dartigue, and the Attorney General of Maryland, Anthony Brown, recently have to support the law on the state del. Charlotte Crutchfield (D-MD) (D-MD) testified to create a commission for racial differences in the criminal justice system of Maryland.

On March 6, Crutchfield, Brown and Dartigue spoke at the head of a house negotiation in Annapolis, MD.

“House Bill 1423 is to set up a commission” Maryland's prison system is currently showing strict racial differences in their demography of the occupants. “

Crutchfield pointed out that Black Marylanders make up about 30 percent of the state's population, but make up 71 percent of the persons imprisoned in Maryland. She also emphasized that Maryland has the highest percentage of the nation in prisons compared to the general population.

“Comprehensive data and analyzes of these differences are important in order to satisfy the harmful consequences of the masses of what devastating communities and deeply affected people and families are,” said Crutchfield. “The Commission will examine these differences in every phase of the criminal justice system from the police to law enforcement and conviction.”

The legislation will also investigate potential reforms, including modifications to the possible abolition of the state's crime actress in cases where individuals had no clear intention to commit murder.

The Commission would include two members from the Senate in Maryland, which were appointed by the President of the Senate. Two members from the Delegated House, appointed by the spokesman for the house; judicial and legal representatives; Several representatives of the community lawyer; The Attorney General and Maryland Public Defender.

If adopted, the Commission is a direct recommendation from Maryland Equitable Justice Collaborative (Mejc) and would support the work in collaboration. Mejc is a partnership between the Attorney General of Maryland and Maryland Public Defender, who aims to reduce the masses of African -American Marylanders and other marginalized groups.

“Our cooperation has spent the past year to study racist differences in mass,” said Brown. “We listened to the voices of many, including academics. In December, the collaborative recommendations to reduce masses, including the calling of a comprehensive research interracial and geographical differences in Maryland prisons. “

Brown emphasized that the legislation will examine important guidelines, including minimum mandatory minimum rates, distortions and risk assessments as well as effective alternatives for detention.

In the question of why this commission is necessary, if MEJC exists, Brown emphasized that legislation builds on the work of the MejC. Brown said that a number of recommendations, either four or five, require laws. At the hearing there were opposing certificates for the invoice.

“It is urgent to tackle the racist differences in Maryland's criminal justice system,” said Dartigue. “Black people are rather denied the deposit or a higher deposit is assigned compared to white people. Black children make almost 80 percent of those who are tried as adults, even though they are only a third of the well -known youth population. “

The draft law has not yet been coordinated by the House judicial committee.

When the crossover period of the General Assembly of Maryland approaches quickly, this legislation would have to run through the house chamber due to the deadline so that it has a real chance to create this session to the governor's desk.

“We have to do something about it,” said Brown about the overrepresentation of African Americans in Maryland prisons. “No other state comes close to this racist inequality.”