Maryland State Attorney Sentencing Review Unit Achieves New Milestone

By Alyssa Eng

BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland State Lawyer Marilyn Mosby introduced that her Sentencing Evaluate Unit has organized for the discharge of fifty inmates since its inception in December 2020, and none of these launched have since dedicated one other offense.

The SRU was created to deal with mass incarceration and overcrowding of Maryland’s prisons, mentioned Mosby.  Of the 18,000 individuals incarcerated within the state of Maryland, over 72 % are Black.

The SRU, defined Mosby, opinions previous convictions to find out whether or not sentences are nonetheless applicable in mild of any progress and rehabilitation displayed by the inmate.

The unit presently opinions circumstances of inmates who’ve served greater than 20 years for crimes dedicated as juveniles, or have served greater than 25 years for crimes dedicated as younger adults.

The unit  additionally will evaluation circumstances of people who’ve a documented medical situation that locations them at excessive danger of sickness or dying in the event that they contract Covid-19 and are over age 60 in addition to having served over 25 years of a life sentence.

The unit follows up by investigating different points of the case together with however not restricted to talking with the sufferer/subsequent of kin, talking with the prosecutor who dealt with the case, info of the case, mitigating circumstances, modifications in sentencing practices, conduct whereas incarcerated, certificates of accomplishment, letters of help, time spent in jail, age of the person, medical circumstances, regret, optimistic growth, household/neighborhood help, and probability of reoffense.

“Prosecutors have traditionally performed a task contributing to the epidemic of mass incarceration and racial inequity on this nation by making extreme sentence suggestions and we’ve a duty to proper that flawed. SAO’s throughout the nation ought to use their authority, autonomy and discretion to evaluation and revise sentences of people who now not current a risk to society,” mentioned Mosby.

The SRU can also be urging reform in remedy of juveniles within the felony justice system. Mosby and her staff beforehand testified in favor of the Juvenile Restoration Act, which prevents juveniles from being sentenced to life in jail with out parole and permits courts to rethink sentences for inmates who’ve spent a minimum of 20 years in jail for crimes dedicated as a juvenile.

SRU Division Chief Becky Feldman maintains, “Prosecutors needs to be chargeable for guaranteeing that the sentences of people who find themselves nonetheless in jail after many a long time proceed to be truthful and affordable beneath our most present requirements. And in reviewing these older circumstances, we will additionally create an even bigger house for redemption and rehabilitation within the felony justice system, which might serve to heal us all.”

The SRU additionally companions with Restorative Response Baltimore to supply remedy to victims’ households and former inmates to advertise neighborhood connection and restorative dialogue. Contributors can decide out of collaborating in dialogue on restorative justice and the unit will as an alternative join them with the Victims and Witness Companies unit for companies akin to lifetime grief counseling.