Baltimore will no longer prosecute for drug possession, prostitution, or other low-level crimes after pandemic experiment ‘success’ – By Kelsey Vlamis (Business Insider) / Mar 27 2021
- A year ago, Baltimore stopped prosecuting low-level crimes to stop the spread of COVID-19 in jails.
- On Friday, officials announced those policies would become permanent after the last year’s success.
- Drug possession, prostitution, and urinating in public are among the crimes no longer being prosecuted.
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Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced Friday the city would no longer prosecute low-level, non-violent offenses after a year-long experiment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mosby stopped prosecuting such crimes a year ago as part of the Covid Criminal Justice policies effort to prevent virus transmission in jails and prisons, a move that was adopted by prosecutors in other cities as well.
A year on, the policies have been a “success,” according to a joint statement from the state’s attorney, mayor, and community partners.
“The policies enacted over the past year have resulted in a decrease in arrests, no adverse impact on the crime rate, and address the systemic inequity of mass incarceration,” the statement said.
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