HEARING ALERT: Accountability For Violent Criminals Act Of 2018

Important Legislation Requires Repeat Violent Criminals To Serve Their Full Sentences 

Note: Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee to Hold Hearing on SB 199 on January 30, 2018, 1:00 PM

“We will introduce three pieces of emergency legislation aimed at combating violent crime in Maryland. This will include “truth in sentencing” legislation to get the worst violent offenders who have repeatedly victimized our communities off our streets and into prison.” - Governor Larry Hogan, December 5, 2017

Governor Hogan’s Proposed Accountability For Violent Criminals Act Of 2018 Is Part Of His Statewide Violent Crimes Initiatives

In December 2017, Governor Hogan Announced A Series Of Bold Initiatives Aimed At Combating Criminal Gang Enterprises And Repeat Violent Offenders Across The State. “Governor Larry Hogan today joined with federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and officials to announce a series of initiatives to combat criminal gang enterprises and repeat violent offenders responsible for terrorizing Baltimore City and participating in violent crime throughout the state. The governor’s announcements include state and federal law enforcement assistance targeting the violent crime ravaging Baltimore City; legislation to ensure that violent criminals serve their full prison sentence; and a new, collaborative data-sharing network to help prosecutors and law enforcement bring down criminal networks across the state.” (Press Release, “Governor Larry Hogan Announces Statewide Violent Crime Initiatives,” Office Of The Governor, 12/5/17)
Governor Hogan: “Let me be crystal clear – I have absolutely no tolerance whatsoever for these repeat violent offenders or these criminal gangs causing lawlessness in our streets… Our focus is to give law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges the tools they need to get these violent criminals off the streets and into prison.” (Press Release, “Governor Larry Hogan Announces Statewide Violent Crime Initiatives,” Office Of The Governor, 12/5/17)

Governor Hogan Stated Support For Truth In Sentencing Measures To Keep Violent Repeat Offenders Off Of The Streets

Governor Hogan Expressed Frustration That Repeat Violent Offenders With Multiple Convictions Are Continuously Released From Jail Prior To Serving The Duration Of Their Sentence. “One of my biggest concerns is that we have repeat violent offenders, sometimes with an average of 11 or 13 convictions, who are not being sentenced to jail once they are convicted of a violent crime,’ Hogan said. ‘We have, in some cases for repeat violent offenders, mandatory minimum sentences but we have sentences that are being handed down that they’re waiving — let’s say it’s a five-year minimum sentence — we’ll give you five years but we’re going to waive it all and give you probation.’” (Bryan Sears, “Hogan Calls For ‘Truth In Sentencing’ As Judges Are Tried In Absentia,” The Daily Record, 8/29/17)
Governor Hogan: “We’re going to push the legislature to get even tougher… So if you say you’re going to get this number of years, you’re going to get that number of years.” (Luke Broadwater, “After Baltimore Crime Meeting, Hogan Proposes ‘Truth In Sentencing’ Legislation,” The Baltimore Sun, 8/29/17)

Governor Hogan Has Received Bipartisan Support For His Call To Keep Repeat Violent Offenders Off Of The Streets

Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh Signaled Support For The Governor’s Proposal. “Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh (D), who participated in Tuesday’s meeting, expressed similar frustration with sentencing, saying she would ‘like to see the judges do what they need to do to keep repeat offenders off our streets.’” (Josh Hicks, “Hogan Promises ‘Truth In Sentencing’ Measure For Repeat Violent Offenders,” The Washington Post, 8/29/17)

State Senator Jim Brochin Stated That Allowing Repeat Offenders Back On To The Streets Is The “Biggest Safety Threat In The State;” Noted That Judges Who Are “Handing Out Light Sentences” Need To Be Held Accountable.“It is the biggest safety threat in the state. appalled is an understatement,’ said state sen. Jim Brochin (D) of Baltimore County who is also on the judicial proceedings committee. ‘The best idea I’ve heard so far is we start tracking the judges who are handing these light sentences out and make them accountable.’” (Mike Hellgren, “Gov. Hogan Proposes ‘Truth In Sentencing;’ Calls For Repeat Offenders To Serve Majority Of Sentence,” WJZ, 8/31/17)

Delegate Cheryl Glenn: “We need to look at the decisions of our judges... There’s something wrong when you have repeat offenders who continuously get released from jail. It’s very troubling to our communities and constituents.” (Josh Hicks, “Hogan Promises ‘Truth In Sentencing’ Measure For Repeat Violent Offenders,” The Washington Post, 8/29/17)

Baltimore City State’s Attorney Is Supportive Of Truth In Sentencing Measures For Repeat Violent Offenders. “One day after meeting with Gov. Larry Hogan to discuss crime, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby gave broad support for his ‘truth in sentencing’ proposal. ‘I’m supportive of anything that’s going to go after violent repeat offenders,’ Mosby said when asked on WBAL Radio’s ‘C4 Show’ whether she agreed with the governor’s idea… ‘I think that when it comes to truth in sentencing, I think he was focusing on truth in sentencing for violent repeat offenders,’ Mosby said. ‘It’s not necessarily taking away judges’ discretion. It’s unlike mandatory minimums. It’s more about abolishing and curbing parole, so when you’re sentenced, you actually do the time.’” (Justin Fenton, “Mosby Supports ‘Truth In Sentencing,’ Seeks Distinction For Nonviolent Offenders,” The Baltimore Sun, 8/30/17)

Accountability For Violent Criminals Act Of 2018

Governor Hogan’s Accountability For Violent Criminals Act Of 2018 Ensures That Repeat Violent Offenders Will Serve Their Full Sentence And Be Ineligible For Parole. “On conviction for a second time of a crime of violence committed on or after the effective date of Chapter ____ (S.B. ____/H.B. ____) (LR0127) of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2018, a person shall be sentenced to imprisonment for the term allowed by law, but not less than 10 years, if the person: has been convicted on a prior occasion of a crime of violence, including a conviction for a crime committed before the effective date of Chapter ____ (S.B. ____/H.B. ____) (LR0127) of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2018; and served a term of confinement in a correctional facility for that conviction. The court may not suspend all or part of the mandatory 10-year sentence required under this paragraph. A person sentenced under this paragraph is not eligible for parole except in accordance with the provisions of §4-305 of the Correctional Services Article.” (“Senate Bill 199,” Maryland General Assembly, 1/17/18)