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Criminal Justice

Too often, policies and workplace practices act as barriers to residents with criminal records seeking to rebuild their lives. The economy will not achieve its full potential unless all residents are able to participate.

MDCEP works with partners around Maryland to ensure that law enforcement and economic development work hand in hand, rather than at cross purposes.

Spotlight

Under-funding Public Defenders Harms Maryland’s Justice System

Anyone who is facing criminal charges, has a Constitutional right to legal representation. However, having

Maryland Pays High Costs for Federal Immigration Enforcement

Jailing suspected undocumented immigrants at the request of federal officials costs Maryland and its localities
Recent Criminal Justice Publications

Baltimore City Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Toolkit

April 27, 2022 by Musaab Ibrahim
Baltimore City FY23 Budget As the 2022 budget process gets underway, city residents have an opportunity tonight to weigh in on the city’s preliminary budget. This comes as policymakers weigh… read more

Legislative Session Brought a Wide Range of Policies that Will Improve Well-Being for Children and Families

April 21, 2022 by Nonso Umunna
The 2022 Maryland legislative session saw the passage of several bills that will increase economic security and improve the wellbeing of children and families. Legislators not only passed the Time… read more

Budgeting For Opportunity

November 18, 2020 by MDCEP
How Our Fiscal Policy Choices Can Remove Barriers Facing Marylanders of Color and Advance Shared Prosperity Maryland’s budget provides the clearest reflection of our priorities as a state. Choices about… read more

Budgeting for Opportunity: Our Shared Investments Can Build Safe, Just, Thriving Communities

November 18, 2020 by Christopher Meyer
With activists across the state calling for greater investment in communities, rather than punishment, and a viral pandemic putting the lives of incarcerated people at greater risk, it is more… read more

We Need Action to Advance Anti-Racist Policies. Here Are Some Ideas.

June 3, 2020 by Benjamin Orr
“I can’t breathe.” We know this simple phrase as the last words of George Floyd and Eric Garner, both while being slowly asphyxiated by police officers 1,200 miles and six… read more

Removing barriers to opportunity for formerly incarcerated people benefits all Marylanders

April 26, 2019 by Ellen Hutton
Every Marylander should have the chance to achieve their full potential. However, Marylanders with a criminal record often face significant barriers to accessing education, employment, housing, and other resources that… read more

Maryland Needs to Invest in Working Families to Support a Thriving Economy

October 2, 2018 by Kenna Lemu
While our state’s overall economy is stronger, a decade after the Great Recession many working Marylanders’ paychecks have not fully recovered from the impact of the recession. Median earnings within… read more

Maryland Should Build on its Past Success in Reducing Incarceration

May 31, 2018 by Christopher Meyer
The number of people confined in Maryland prisons declined by 10 percent in 2017, a steeper drop than in any other state. This is cause to celebrate as well as… read more

It’s Time to Break Maryland’s Poverty to Prison Pipeline

March 30, 2018 by Christopher Meyer
A new report from the Job Opportunities Task Force shows the many ways Maryland’s criminal law system ensnares people who are struggling to get by on low incomes—especially Black and… read more

Blueprint for Broadly Shared Prosperity in Maryland

March 27, 2018 by MDCEP
Maryland has a lot to be proud of. Our past investments in our education system, health care, transportation network, safe communities, and public recreation have made our state a great… read more