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YOUR SOURCE FOR 2024 Legislative News

Office of the State's Attorney Prince George's County

2024 PRIORITIES

Legislative, Policy & Government Affairs

2024 General Assembly Legislative Session, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy is focused on Public Safety Enhancements, Juvenile Justice Reform, Criminal Justice Reform, Restorative Justice Programs, and Community Resources.

2024 Legislative Updates

As we move forward in the 2024 legislative session, we will be forging partnerships (Baltimore City State's Attorney Office, Howard County State's Attorney's Office) and advocating for legislation that will ensure justice and keep our communities safe. We are confident this will be a productive and successful session.

The General Assembly is Maryland’s legislative body and directly represents the electorate. The state has 47 districts represented by 47 Senators and 141 Delegates.

The 2024 Legislative Session began Wednesday, January 10, and will run for 90 consecutive days until April 8.

“We have the most at stake in this upcoming session. Between Baltimore City and Prince George’s County, we make up the lion’s share – not all -- of juvenile offenders, as well as adult offenders,”

Aisha Braveboy, State's Attorney
Prince George's County Maryland

Statements by the State's Attorney

Our 2024 Priorities

Baltimore City & Prince George’s County, MD

2024
Collaboration

Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy recently sat down for an exclusive interview with FOX45 News to discuss their 2024 legislative priorities aimed at addressing juvenile crime.

Recent News

Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy, speaks at a press conference Dec. 14, 2023, at Lawyers Mall in Annapolis. Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates.

Accountability & Rehabilitation

Bates and Braveboy are committed to enhancing the rehabilitation process by advocating for legislative reforms that emphasize accountability, effective intervention, and support for juvenile offenders. Below are some critical components of their approach:

Braveboy and Bates with 2024 Priorities.jpeg

Your Support is Vital...

Office of the State's Attorney Prince George's County

Dear Community,

Today, the 446th Legislative Session convened in Annapolis. We have a long road ahead but remain vigilant in our advocacy to combat violence in Prince George’s County and across the State. For example, strengthening Maryland’s Organized Crime Statute remains at the forefront of our legislative agenda. These enhancements are fundamental to ensuring law enforcement and prosecutors alike, have the necessary tool to charge and hold accountable, individuals and/criminal networks who are responsible for our benefit from criminal activity.

Your support is vital to our continued success. If you have an interest in being a part of our efforts in Annapolis, please click "TAKE ACTION" to sign up.

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2024 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

The Braveboy administration places great importance on a balanced and efficient public safety approach that centers around justice. Our team is resolute in advocating for the community in all areas, including the legislative process, the courtroom, and the larger community. Our unyielding dedication to protecting our county's residents is evident in our high felony conviction rates and our commitment to promoting rehabilitation and restoration initiatives.

01.

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Public Safety Enhancements

MD Crim. Law Title 9, Subtitle 8—"Criminal Organizations"
Domestic Violence Registry
Sacred and Religious Places Act of 2024
The Pava Marie LaPere Act

02.

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Juvenile Justice Reform

Modification of Juvenile Interrogation Act
Juvenile Dispositions
GPS Home Monitoring/ House Arrest

03.

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Criminal Justice Reform

Postconviction Review: Sentence Modification

04.

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Restorative Justice Program and Community Resources

Emerging Adults Program
Victim Compensation Fund

2024 LEGISLATIVE NEWS

December 15, 2024

Braveboy, Bates join to introduce legislative priorities before upcoming General Assembly session.

Aisha Braveboy and Ivan Bates, Democratic prosecutors who represent two of Maryland’s largest jurisdictions, held a joint press conference Thursday in Annapolis to unveil legislative priorities for the upcoming General Assembly session.

December 13, 2024

State's Attorneys Bates, Braveboy team up on 2024 legislative priorities targeting juvenile crime: 'How can you have rehabilitation without accountability?'

With less than one month before the next legislative session, all eyes have been on lawmakers to see what will happen within the juvenile justice system after months of criticism from police, prosecutors, and parents about the current laws. Now, prosecutors from two of the most populated jurisdictions are teaming up to push for legislative proposals they say will help curb the violence.

January 9, 2024

Governor Moore Announces 2024 Legislative Session Public Safety Agenda and Legislative Action

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today announced the Moore-Miller administration’s 2024 legislative session public safety agenda. The administration is offering bills that will reform the state's victim compensation program, address recruitment and retention of police officers, and create a gun violence prevention and intervention office at the Maryland Department of Health.

2024 Legislative Media Gallery

As we move forward in the 2024 legislative session, we will be forging partnerships (Baltimore City State's Attorney Office, Howard County State's Attorney's Office) and advocating for legislation that will ensure justice and keep our communities safe. We are confident this will be a productive and successful session.

MD Crim. Law Title 9, Subtitle 8—"Criminal Organizations"

Organized crime has rapidly evolved in Maryland over the past several years. This evolution includes “criminal organizations” comprised of crews which are smaller in number and do not operate within the traditional vertical command structure that has been identified historically with crime families or gangs. Often, these crews include adults who recruit and encourage juvenile participants. The proposed amendments address substantial deficiencies by first establishing clarity in the law. Furthermore, it broadens the authority of State’s Attorney’s Offices, allowing them to indict groups or individuals who are involved in or benefit from crime-focused partnerships, even if they were not present for the underlying act. Lastly, it will increase the penalty for first and subsequent offenses.

Domestic Violence Registry

Establish a statewide registry that would enable the centralized storage and public accessibility of specific information regarding convictions of qualifying felony offenses associated with domestic or intimate partner violence.

Sacred & Religious Places Act of 2024

Establishing the statutory definition for “Sacred Places”; and imposing penalty enhancements when a crime is committed in a “Sacred Place”

The Pava Marie LaPere Act

Prohibiting an incarcerated individual who is serving a sentence for First–Degree Rape or First–Degree Sexual Offense as First–Degree Sexual Offense existed prior to a certain date from being entitled to diminution of the incarcerated individual’s term of confinement; and generally relating to the diminution of an incarcerated individual’s term of confinement.

Modification of Juvenile Interrogation Act

Modifying certain provisions of the “Juvenile Interrogation Act”; making the statutory requirement for a consultation with an Attorney to be solely in person when a juvenile is taken into custody, interrogated, or charged with a criminal offense.

Juvenile Dispositions

Increasing the probationary period of a misdemeanor involving a juvenile illegally wear, carry, and/or transporting a firearm or knowing and willfully taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s lawful custody, control, or consent from 6 to 18 months; while also increasing the probationary period of those found guilty of violent felonies from 2-years to 4-years maximum. Ensuring that a juvenile charged with any auto-related crime (auto theft or unauthorized use of a motor vehicle) or the illegal wear, carry and/or transportation of a handgun, be brought before a juvenile magistrate within 24-hours of the arrest (excluding weekends and holidays) to decide on whether the juvenile should be afforded direct services, sent home on GPS home monitoring or detained for the charges. • Making changes to Md. Code § 3-9A-19.6 that grants authority to judges to impose penalties for technical violations, including failure to comply with court ordered treatment or non-compliance with other conditions of probation.

GPS Home Monitoring/House Arrest

In conjunction with Mayor Brandon Scott’s legislation around home monitoring, any juvenile found to have violated or breached the contract or perimeter of their home monitoring agreement, the Department of Juvenile Services shall have 24– hours to notify the courts, the prosecutor’s office, and defense counsel.

Emerging Adults Program

This $500,000 budget request will fund the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office’s Emerging Adult Program. This program is focused on individuals aged 18-26 years old, who are currently incarcerated or serving out sentences in the community. Working with partners such as Listening is Key/Ever Fourward, the Community Public Awareness Council, a variety of law enforcement agencies, and behavioral health agencies, along with the Building Trades Union and the business community, the program establishes key re-entry programs for our young adults. These include mentorship, counseling, job training and work placement. The Emerging Adult Program begins when the young adult is sentenced and continues through any period of incarceration and parole or probation to reduce recidivism and promote successful re-entry into the community. This program is estimated to cost approximately $10,000 per person.

Victim Compensation Fund

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is a remedial body designed to provide aid and assistance to victims of crime in Maryland. This program will assist in the funeral costs in cases of homicide with a maximum award of $5,000. However, most funeral homes do not accept this program because it takes nearly a year in a lot of cases to pay these funds out to the funeral. Legislation that streamline and expedite this process for families will help them during their time of loss by allowing them to use funeral homes of their choice without the concern of the financial assistance that they qualify for not being accepted

Postconviction Review:

Sentence Modification

This legislation will provide limited discretion to State’s Attorneys for the purposes of filing a motion to modify a sentence during any period of active incarceration. It also establishes the factors that the court should consider, including (1)the inmate’s disciplinary record and record of rehabilitation and maturity while incarcerated; (2) evidence that reflects whether age, time served, or diminished physical condition has reduced the inmate’s risk for future violence; and (3) evidence reflecting a change in circumstances since the original conviction and sentencing such that the inmate’s continued incarceration is no longer in the interest of justice.

2023 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

Maryland Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act

This legislation will make it a crime to acquire, receive income from, or operate an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering. Rather than prosecuting violations of individual criminal statutes, they can pursue patterns of criminal acts committed by direct and indirect participants in criminal enterprises.

Safe Harbor and Service Response — Sexual Crimes against Child Victims

This legislation alters procedures that a law enforcement officer or court must follow when there is reason to believe that a child, who has been detained, is a victim of sex trafficking or human trafficking. The legislation provides that a minor may not be criminally prosecuted or proceeded against under certain provision of law for certain offenses – if the alleged offense is the direct result of human trafficking.

Sexual Offenses — Crime of Violence and Lifetimes Supervision

This legislation alters a certain definition of “Crime of Violence” as it relates to the age of victims of certain offenses requiring a sentence for certain persons convicted of certain sexual abuse crimes to include a term of lifetime sexual offender supervision.

Sexual Offense in the Third Degree — In-Custody Sex Offense

This legislation establishes an “incapacity to consent” when a person has been placed in detention, is under arrest, or is in the custody of a police officer, peace officer, or other law enforcement officer responsible for effecting the arrest of such person or maintaining such person in detention; or actual custody; or reasonably should know that such person is under arrest, detention, or custody.

Expanding Expungement Eligibility

This legislation will allow individuals, who have committed certain felonies, to have their criminal records expunged after a significant period of time without subsequent convictions. The current expungement statute only allows for certain misdemeanors to be expunged.

This legislation expands this opportunity to include individuals who were convicted of more serious offenses, but who have not committed any additional crimes for 20 years after their release from incarceration.

Qualifying individuals should have an opportunity to free themselves from the collateral consequences associated with a felony criminal record. This expansion of the current expungement statute will not include convictions for murder, rape, felony sexual crimes or felony domestic violence convictions

Prosecutorial Reconsideration

This legislation will provide limited discretion to State’s Attorneys to file a motion to modify a sentence during any period of active incarceration. This legislation also establishes factors for the court’s consideration at a hearing on the motion including:

(1) the inmate’s disciplinary record and record of rehabilitation and maturity while incarcerated; (2) evidence that reflects whether age, time served, or diminished physical condition has reduced the inmate’s risk for future violence; and

(3) evidence reflecting a change in circumstances since the original conviction and sentencing such that the inmate’s continued incarceration is no longer in the Interest of justice.

Cannabis Public Awareness

Campaign Funding Authorization

This legislation will authorize funding to create a public education campaign aimed at educating youth and adults about the potential negative health effects and risks of recreational cannabis use.

Emerging Adult Working Group

The Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office requests $750,000 to fund the Emerging Adult Program. This program focuses on individuals aged 18-26 years old who are currently incarcerated or serving out sentences in the community.

The SAO has partnered with Listening is Key/Ever Forward, the Community Public Awareness Council, a variety of law enforcement agencies, behavioral health agencies, the Building Trades Union and the business community.

The program establishes key re-entry programs for our young adults. These programs include mentorship, counseling, job training, and work placement. At a cost of about $10,000 per participant, the Emerging Adult Program begins when the young adult is sentenced and continues through any period of incarceration, parole, or probation to reduce recidivism and promote successful re-entry into the community.

State Budget Funding for Reentry Services

The State’s Attorney’s Offices (SAOs) are constitutionally charged with enforcing state law but receive little to no funding for such mandates.

This legislation will ensure that each office is funded equally and equipped with the necessary tools to pursue fair and just prosecutions. This funding will also ensure that there is equal access to justice throughout the State, and that each individual State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO) has the necessary tools and funding to enforce the laws of Maryland.

YOUR SOURCE FOR 2024 Legislative News

Legislative, Policy & Government Affairs

2024 General Assembly Legislative Session, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy is focused on Public Safety Enhancements, Juvenile Justice Reform, Criminal Justice Reform, Restorative Justice Programs, and Community Resources.

2024 Legislative Updates

The General Assembly is Maryland’s legislative body and directly represents the electorate. The state has 47 districts represented by 47 Senators and 141 Delegates.

The 2024 Legislative Session began Wednesday, January 10, and will run for 90 consecutive days until April 8.

Statements by the State's Attorney

Our 2024 Priorities

2024
Collaboration

Recent News

Accountability & Rehabilitation

Your Support is Vital...