Limit the use of force by law enforcement.
Maryland is one of only nine states without a statewide use of force law. However, no state or federal law meets international standards for police use of force. Two Supreme Court cases govern the use of force in Maryland. In 1989, the court authorized the use of force when it is “objectively reasonable.” The other authorizes lethal force to prevent a person who is incarcerated from escaping if there is probable cause to believe the suspect poses a significant threat of being violent. There needs to be a clear definition of lethal and non-lethal force and the circumstances under which they may be used.