ANNAPOLIS, MD – A large, diverse coalition of over 60 groups from across the state are calling on Maryland legislators to support strong, renewed demands for police reform and accountability. Over the past few weeks, after the police killing of George Floyd and the national outcry that followed, elected leaders have issued countless statements, social media posts, and other expressions of solidarity with Black Marylanders who have suffered police abuse. The groups now urge legislators to act on those words and pass at least five impactful police reforms during the next Maryland General Assembly Legislative session.

BALT submitted a Public Information Act demand of the Baltimore Police Department asking what type of accountability they took and are taking with Officer Terry Love Jr. for using such extreme violence in striking Sharnesha Street Friday night. Due to the level of force, the investigation must be conducted by the Departments Special Investigations Response Team. SIRT investigations are considered criminal investigations, and therefore beyond protection of the the PIA personnel records exemption. BPD knows of his history of misconduct.

BALT is operating a Bail Fund to help individuals who are sitting in jail during this public health emergency.

Individuals are currently locked in Baltimore City’s dangerous and unsanitary jail, and now are at an extremely heightened risk with the spread of COVID-19. State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby expressly agreed to take measures to mitigate the risks to those behind bars, but has not implemented all of the policies. Today, Mosby agreed to stop prosecuting drug possession, prostitution and other crimes. While this is a necessary step in reducing the risks to those behind bars, so much more needs to be done.

Baltimore Action Legal Team (BALT) Files Lawsuits To Make Internal Investigative Reports Into Baltimore Police Officers Public Records.

[BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 03/02/2020] — Today, local community organizations Baltimore Action Legal Team (BALT) and Open Justice Baltimore (OJB), filed three lawsuits against the Baltimore Police Department, the Office of the State’s Attorney, and the Civilian Review Board to increase transparency of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD). Each suit seeks to promote accountability around local police investigations and improve trust and relationships with law enforcement.

The organizations have requested the State’s Attorney’s Office release the confirmed possession of criminal investigation records of BPD officers measured in thousands of hours to reproduce, including an estimated 438 hours for just 2019 files. A jury has been requested to determine the necessity of releasing these documents to the public.

A group of journalists and community organizations has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Maryland law that prohibits people from broadcasting recordings of criminal trial proceedings.  The lawsuit is the latest in an ongoing effort to oppose § 1-201 of Maryland’s Code of Criminal Procedure.  That provision makes it illegal to broadcast a recording of any criminal “trial, hearing, motion, or argument” held in a trial court, including recordings that were lawfully obtained from court itself.

The plaintiffs argue that § 1-201 violates the First Amendment by barring them from disseminating accurate depictions of public court proceedings.  Two of the plaintiffs, journalists Brandon Soderberg and Baynard Woods, hope to use trial recordings in future reporting and in an upcoming documentary about a now-defunct Baltimore police unit whose members were indicted on federal racketeering charges in 2017.  Soderberg and Woods lawfully purchased trial recordings directly from the courthouse but are hesitant to use them in their film because of § 1‑201’s broadcasting ban.