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We Believe In ...
- Fairness
A person’s racial or ethnic group, economic background, or native language must not affect sentencing, punishment while in prison, access to education and job opportunities, parole, or re-entry supports.- Doing What Works
Our state’s criminal justice system should be accountable for using the practices that have been shown to reduce the likelihood of crimes and recidivism. For example, we know that family ties and visitors can reduce recidivism, so it is important that people who are incarcerated are assisted to maintain these critical connections with community.- Good Stewardship
Where sensible use of state resources can strengthen our communities to help them prevent crime – for example, through evidence-based programs for at-risk youth – we think this is a better use of our money than lengthy incarceration.- Second Chances
We believe that people can change. Given opportunities and support, people who have been incarcerated can choose to return to their communities and families as productive citizens.- Accountability
The state criminal justice system should maintain the data needed to be accountable to citizens. For example, it should be prepared to report on the racial and ethnic group of people in solitary confinement, the length of solitary confinement, and the alternatives to solitary confinement; the number of incarcerated persons who speak languages other than English and how the system is addressing communication issues; the mental health status of persons incarcerated and the measures taken to assist them in recovery.- Opportunities for Change
Many people involved with the criminal justice system have experienced trauma, are mentally ill, or have become addicted to substances. Others have learning disabilities, have never learned to read, or are developmentally impaired. We believe in access to treatment, in-prison opportunities, and community supports to help individuals turn their lives around.- Community Safety
We believe in safe, healthy communities. We believe all of us are safer when we use evidence-based interventions at every phase of involvement in the criminal justice system. We are all safer when:- sound community programs are available to prevent crime (for example, mentoring programs for at-risk youth);
- first offenders receive evidence-based interventions that help them avoid further involvement (for example, a diversion to treatment or mediation where appropriate);
- those who are incarcerated have opportunities to turn their lives around (for example, through fully funded NA and AA programs and opportunities to learn a skill); and
- returning citizens do not face barriers to finding treatment, jobs, and housing and are fully supported in their transition to community life so they never go back to prison.
Websites of Interest
The Ungers: A Matter of Time
Author Archives: Jim
How much time in jail is too much? How pretrial detention negatively impacts on low risk youth.
“It’s obvious that jail isn’t good for the jailed. It may be particularly bad for people accused of minor crimes, who are confined not because they are likely to be dangerous but because, under our cash-bail system, they can’t afford … Continue reading
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Stephen T. Moyer, the man who shut the troubled men’s jail in Baltimore, has a lot more on his agenda.
Stephen T. Moyer, secretary of public safety and correctional services in Maryland, is the topic of this article which appeared in the Washington Post on August 20.
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Fewer prisoners, less crime
The Baltimore Sun asks: Can Maryland be safer if it keeps fewer people locked up? “The state’s new Justice Reinvestment Initiative, the brainchild of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, has enlisted the aid of the Pew Charitable Trusts to … Continue reading
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Solitary Confinement: Washington Post
How many Maryland prisoners are in isolated confinement? It’s hard to say. Read this report in the Washington Post – July 19, 2105
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Fixing ‘the mess’ in Maryland’s prisons
Daily Record, Friday Mar 27, 2015, p23A Commentary by Phil Caroom A new wave of bipartisan cooperation in criminal justice When the bipartisan “tough-on-crime” tidal wave rose from 1980 to 2000, Maryland and other U.S. states more than tripled their … Continue reading
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Vox – March 18, 2015
Graduated re-entry: giving prisoners a little freedom at a time. For the transition from prison to life outside to be successful, it needs to be gradual. If someone needed to be locked up yesterday, he shouldn’t be completely at liberty … Continue reading
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Washington Post – 2/26/2015
Seeking a second chance for criminals serving life sentences in Maryland “When Stanley Mitchell went to prison 41 years ago for driving the getaway car in the fatal shooting of a business executive in Baltimore, he hoped for redemption. “His … Continue reading
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Baltimore Sun – 2/25/2015
“Sandtown-Winchester, the blighted community just west of downtown Baltimore that has been the target of multimillion-dollar revitalization efforts over the past two decades, is home to more people held in state prisons than any other census tract in Maryland, advocacy … Continue reading
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MAJR Press Release Letter
2015 may be the year Maryland begins to switch its criminal justice priorities from “tough-on-crime” to “smart-on-crime.” The Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform (MAJR) press release explains how this rare event will occur with: 1) a legislative commitment to reduce our state’s overuse of incarceration; and … Continue reading
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MAJR Press Release
A PLAN TO FIX “THE MESS” IN MARYLAND PRISONS? When the bipartisan “tough-on-crime” tidal wave rose from 1980 to 2000, Maryland and other U.S. states tripled their prison populations and taxpayer costs. Former Governor and state delegate Bob Ehrlich says, … Continue reading
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