2015–2021 Term Report

MARCH 2020
All courts in the Maryland
Judiciary, court offices,
administrative offices, units of
the Judiciary, and the Offices
of the Clerks of the Circuit
Courts closed to the public due
to the spread of COVID-19 and
the global pandemic that was
just beginning in the United
States. Courts would not
return to full operations until
June of 2021. Governor Larry
Hogan announced statewide
stay at home orders, in order to
reduce the spread of the
COVID-19 virus.
COVID PROSECUTION POLICY —
In March of 2020, the SAO consulted
with the Office of the Public Defender,
the ACLU, and Johns Hopkins public
health professionals to lead a bold plan
that did not impact public safety, but did
address public health concerns by not
prosecuting and incarcerating
individuals who were in violation of
several low-level, nonviolent offenses
including Drug Possession, Prostitution,
Trespassing, Minor Traffic Offenses,
Attempted Drug Distribution, Open
Container, Rogue and Vagabond, and
Urinating/Defecating in Public.
YEAR
SIX
MARCH 2020
States’ Attorney Mosby
instructed prosecutors to
immediately dismiss any charges
and release individuals arrested
for nonviolent offenses that pose
no threat to public safety and to
reduce COVID-19 spread in
correctional facilities. The State’s
Attorney also joined public
health officials in advocating for
the development of decarceral
guidelines for the state’s prisons
and jails, which was ultimately
successful following Governor
Hogan’s announcement that he
would release 1000 individuals
from correctional facilities.
RELEASE OF AT-RISK INMATES -
The State’s Attorney insisted that the
Governor use his power to make sweeping
reductions to the prison population and reduce
the exposure to the virus. In partnership with
the Office of the Public Defender, ACLU, and
Johns Hopkins public health professionals, the
State’s Attorney sent proposals to express the
need for decarceration. This persistence paid
off in April when the Governor announced an
executive order to release 700 people. The SAO,
the Department of Corrections, and the parole
board provided feedback on those individuals
who could be released. In November, the
Governor issued a second executive order
for early release of 1200.
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29ANGLE-RI Sao at a glance 2020