RadioOnFire.com - Larry Hogan said Tuesday he plans to propose legislation to tighten sentencing for violent criminals in the upcoming session, part of an effort to quell a surge in Baltimore bloodshed.
Hogan, a Republican, said he is planning a "truth in sentencing" measure as part of a package of bills in the legislative session that begins in January. He told reporters after a closed-door meeting of the Baltimore City Criminal Justice Coordinating Council that too many judges are waiving prison sentences for probation for repeat violent criminals.
"I believe that that's not acceptable, and we keep putting those same exact violent people on the streets," the governor said.
Hogan also expressed displeasure that judges declined to attend the meeting.
"We wanted input," Hogan said. "They refused to come."
With 231 slayings so far this year, Baltimore is on pace to have more than 300 homicides in 2017, threatening to make new records for bloodshed in the city for the third consecutive year.
Mayor Catherine Pugh, who attended Tuesday's meeting, announced a violence prevention plan earlier this month. She echoed the governor's concerns about repeat violent offenders and his frustration that representatives of the judiciary were not in attendance.
"I guess we'll keep calling them," Pugh, a Democrat, said.
Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said he also believes tougher sentencing needs to be part of the solution.
Source WBAL
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