The Maryland Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability (MCJPA) calls on leaders in the General Assembly to bring up for a vote in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and then pass House Bill 1071 with a clear “exclusionary rule” that would ban police from using evidence obtained from a stop or search based solely on the odor of marijuana. HB 1071 prohibits police from conducting stops and searches based on the odor of marijuana. But without a clear “exclusionary rule,” the bill will not effectively deter police from violating this important new rule of law.

Elected and community leaders held a press conference before a court hearing about the dangerous legal effort made by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35 (FOP) in Montgomery County to gut Anton’s Law, which would block the public’s hard-earned access to police misconduct records.

The statewide Maryland Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability hosted a press conference to voice serious concerns and call on members of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review to request an emergency public hearing so there is transparency to the public about the proposals and opportunity for the public to weigh in.

Demands for PAB membership criteria include youth and City residents regardless of immigration status or previous encounters with the criminal justice system.

Leaders with the Maryland Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability are sounding the alarm about serious concerns with the proposed regulations by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission (MPTSC) on Police Accountability Boards (PAB) and Administrative Charging Committees (ACC). In response to an MPIA request, the coalition received a draft of regulations written by the MPTSC. The coalition has a number of objections it recently raised in a letter, and asked that they be considered before finalizing the regulations and beginning the notice and comment period.

The Maryland Coalition for Justice & Police Accountability (MCJPA) calls for the County Executive to halt recruitment for Police Accountability Board (PAB) members until a public town hall is first held, giving the community an opportunity to make recommendations, and until legislation has been drafted to enable the board as mandated under Maryland’s new state law – the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021 (MPAA). The purpose of the new law was to increase police accountability and community oversight and participation in the police disciplinary process.

Members of the Maryland Coalition for Justice & Police Accountability (MJCPA), advocates and individuals impacted by police brutality, celebrate the successful organizing that has advanced police transparency and accountability, but say Maryland’s historic police reform package still does not meet the moment.