2015–2021 Term Report
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VICTIM AND<br />
WITNESS SERVICES<br />
OVER<br />
8550<br />
VICTIMS AND WITNESSES<br />
OF CRIME SERVED<br />
575<br />
SURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE OFFERED<br />
COUNSELING SESSIONS<br />
139<br />
VICTIMS AND WITNESSES<br />
OF CRIME RELOCATED<br />
POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE<br />
AFFAIRS VICTORIES<br />
Ă THE REPEAT SEXUAL PREDATOR PREVENTION ACT OF 2018 (RSPPA) was passed after five<br />
years of lobbying to bring Maryland’s rules of evidence in line with the federal system and the<br />
majority of other states. The passage of this critical bipartisan legislation in 2018 means that<br />
prosecutors can<br />
now introduce evidence of a defendant’s other relevant sex crimes in sexual assault cases.<br />
Ă WITNESS RELOCATION FUNDING, mandated four years<br />
of State funding for emergency housing when witnesses<br />
are threatened. The funding totals $360,000 per year from<br />
FY 2020- 2023.<br />
Ă BODY ATTACHMENTS FOR ADULT WITNESSES IN JUVENILE CASES, allowed the juvenile<br />
court to compel adult witnesses.<br />
Ă PENALTY FOR VIOLATING PRETRIAL STAY AWAY ORDERS, the SAO joined House of Ruth<br />
and other stakeholders in advocating for penalties if a defendant violates a pre-trial stay away<br />
order in cases involving sexual assault, domestic violence, and all other violent crimes.<br />
Ă ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE WHO THREATEN WITNESSES, the SAO supported<br />
increased penalties for victim, witness or juror intimidation.<br />
Ă LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTED DIVERSION©, which provided for four years of<br />
mandated state funding to sustain the Baltimore City Law Enforcement Assisted<br />
Diversion© (LEAD) program.<br />
Ă FIREARMS TRANSFER. The SAO joined Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action<br />
for Gun Sense in America for this bill which requires the surrender of firearms by convicted<br />
domestic abusers.<br />
Ă “BAN THE BOX” ON COLLEGE APPLICATIONS, the SAO supported a successful veto override<br />
and passage of 2017 legislation expanding access to higher education for individuals with prior<br />
criminal convictions.<br />
VIOLENT OFFENDERS<br />
Ă Eddie Tarver was convicted of Conspiracy to Commit<br />
Murder of Rashaw Scott that resulted in the death of oneyear-old<br />
Carter Scott in May of 2013. He was sentenced to<br />
Life in prison.<br />
Ă Damon Alexander was sentenced to two Life sentences<br />
plus 110 years for a mass shooting outside of a store in<br />
November of 2016.<br />
Ă Anthony Clark Jr. was convicted of second degree murder,<br />
attempted second degree murder, and two counts of using<br />
a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence.<br />
Ă Dashonn Gipson was sentenced to life in prison for<br />
the first degree murder of Tiffany Lowery. He was also<br />
convicted and sentenced to 20 years for the use of a<br />
handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, and<br />
sentenced to 5 years for being a prohibited person in<br />
possession of a firearm.<br />
Ă The SAO stood with representatives from several federal,<br />
state, and local law enforcement agencies to announce<br />
the indictments of several members of a drug trafficking<br />
organization operating out of South Baltimore’s Brooklyn<br />
community.<br />
Ă The SAO and members of the law enforcement community<br />
announced the indictment of several senior members<br />
of a drug trafficking organization operating out of<br />
Cherry Hill.<br />
<strong>2015–2021</strong> TERM REPORT<br />
20ANGLE-RI