Advancing Justice Requires Rethinking State Spending on Incarceration
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 critical than ever that Maryland undertake serious review of its spending on incarceration and other parts of the criminal legal system.
A new report from the Maryland Center on Economic Policy (MDCEP) shows that changing our approach to the state’s criminal legal system would open new opportunities to build stronger communities.
“There is a long history of policy choices in Maryland and across the United States that have led to far too many people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds being incarcerated, and most of all Black and Indigenous Marylanders,” MDCEP President and CEO Benjamin Orr said. “It took many layers of discriminatory decisions to create this reality and the solution must also be multi-layered. Part of that conversation has to include the choices about where state policymakers invest our shared resources.”
Key findings of “Budgeting for Opportunity: Our Shared Investments Can Build Safe, Just, Thriving Communities” include:
- Maryland’s reliance on incarceration is heavily lopsided. Black Marylanders are 4.5 times more likely to be incarcerated in state prison than those Marylanders belonging to other racial and ethnic groups. American Indian/Alaska Native Marylanders are more than twice as likely as other Marylanders to be in state prison.
- Mass incarceration is incompatible with maintaining good public health amid a deadly pandemic. At least 13 people incarcerated in Maryland and two staff have died of COVID-19 so far, with nearly 1,800 others contracting the virus.
- Strong evidence links a healthy economy—one in which good, family-supporting jobs are available and realistically accessible—to safe communities.
MDCEP’s Budgeting for Opportunity series examines the state budget through a racial and ethnic equity lens. You can find this and prior reports at mdeconomy.org/budgeting-for-opportunity
Tomorrow, MDCEP is also hosting a panel discussion focused on an antiracist approach to state budgeting, including conversations about spending on policing and incarceration. To attend or receive a recording, register here or contact Kali Schumitz.
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Media Contact
Kali Schumitz, Director of Communications and Partner Engagement
410-412-9105, ext. 701
kschumitz@mdeconomy.org
About Maryland Center on Economic Policy
The Maryland Center on Economic Policy advances innovative policy ideas to foster broad prosperity and help our state be the standard-bearer for responsible public policy. We engage in research, analysis, strategic communications, public education, and grassroots alliances promoting robust debate and greater public awareness of the policy choices Maryland residents face together.
