Baltimore’s top prosecutor Ivan Bates plans to address quality of life concerns in the city with a new citation docket, but some worry it won’t improve quality of life for everyone.
“I’m not in this position to coddle these individuals. We’re trying to get help and if they don’t want help they’ll be prosecuted,” he said.
For adults 18 and older citations will cover a multitude of offensesincluding several dirt bike charges, loitering, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
It’s a stark contrast from Bates' predecessor Marilyn Mosby who stopped prosecuting crimes she considered low-level in March 2021.
Criticism has been flowing in on social media with people calling the plan ‘terrible.’
One Twitter user said “Look how they constantly set young black men up to be criminalized.
Another tweeted saying “Baltimore loves to focus on policing black people rather than implementing initiatives that actually help the city.”
On Twitter Bates responded to the criticism going on to further clarify the docket saying “Law enforcement officers will first warn individuals before issuing a citation, but this is not an arrest, they are not being locked up.
He tweeted “Eligible defendants will be advised of their rights and given the opportunity to complete community service instead of prosecution. They will refer individuals to voluntary wrap-around services offering drug treatment, mental health services, GED/educational opportunities connecting them with programs such as B-360 for dirt bike violators or DCREP for job training/employment.”
Bates tweeted “For the first-time offender they will receive up to 5 hours of community service and offered a myriad or wrap-around services. Second-time offenders will receive up to 10 hours of community service and once again be afforded those wrap-around services. Those who complete the community service will have their case dismissed. Only those who refuse the community service and/or wrap-around services will go to the criminal docket- or those who reoffend a third time will also face criminal prosecution.”
“At the end of the day it’s not about having a person have a criminal record, we really just want to refer these individuals to job and educational training, things like that,” he said.
Bates says his plan is fair and equitable and a good use of resources.
“What I can tell you is the people that live in the community say this is the correct form of resources,” he said. “They are sick and tired of being sick and tired of this city.”
Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison says this is not about mass incarceration or aggressive policing.
“This is not about arresting our way out of violent crime or burdening people with citations,” he said.