Sunday, November 23, 2008
Support the Diminution Credit Legislation
"For offenders convicted of violent crime, they must complete 85% of their sentence, recognizing that they are eligible for Parole upon completing 50% of their sentence."
FOLLOW UP:
Meeting of the City Council to consider our request:
7:30 PM
Gaithersburg City Hall
31 S. Summit Ave.
(Old Town)
7:30 PM
Gaithersburg City Hall
31 S. Summit Ave.
(Old Town)
Friday, November 21, 2008
Udoff appears at the City Council Meeting
A representative of Justice for Safety asked the City to support legislation to require criminals to serve a majority of prison sentences that would make communities and streets safer. He referred to the murder of a Grove Park Apartment resident who was shot and killed in April 2008. The suspect had a violent criminal history and instead of serving a 12 year sentence, with diminutive credits, the suspect’s years were reduced for good behavior to six years. All concurred that the matter should be discussed at a future work session.
Contact your elected representatives and public officials
In the Judiciary Committee:
Joseph F. Vallario, Jr. Calvert & Prince George's Counties
Samuel I. Rosenberg Baltimore City
Curtis S. (Curt) Anderson Baltimore City
Victor R. Ramirez Prince George's County
Michael D. Smigiel, Sr. Caroline, Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne's Counties
Jeffrey D. Waldstreicher Montgomery County
At the Attorney General Office:
Attorney General Douglas Gansler
By phone: (410) 576-6300 or 1 (888) 743-0023 toll-free
By mail: 200 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202
By email: oag@oag.state.md.us
At the Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention:
By phone: (410) 821-2828 or 1 (877) 687-900 toll-free
By mail: 4300 E. Joppa Road, Suite 1105
Baltimore, MD 21286-3016
By email: info@goccp-state-md.org
Joseph F. Vallario, Jr. Calvert & Prince George's Counties
Samuel I. Rosenberg Baltimore City
Curtis S. (Curt) Anderson Baltimore City
Victor R. Ramirez Prince George's County
Michael D. Smigiel, Sr. Caroline, Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne's Counties
Jeffrey D. Waldstreicher Montgomery County
At the Attorney General Office:
Attorney General Douglas Gansler
By phone: (410) 576-6300 or 1 (888) 743-0023 toll-free
By mail: 200 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202
By email: oag@oag.state.md.us
At the Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention:
By phone: (410) 821-2828 or 1 (877) 687-900 toll-free
By mail: 4300 E. Joppa Road, Suite 1105
Baltimore, MD 21286-3016
By email: info@goccp-state-md.org
Thursday, November 20, 2008
In the news:
Montgomery killing attracts support for gun measure- The Gazette
August 8, 2008
A fatal attack on a Gaithersburg woman in April is sparking interest in Montgomery County to support a Baltimore city effort to cut in half the monthly good behavior credits certain Maryland inmates receive.
The change will keep gun criminals in jail longer, which could have helped prevent the Montgomery County murder, said Capt. Mitch Cunningham, director of the information support and analysis division for the Montgomery County Police Department.
Crime, punishment on some agendas- The Gazette
January 11, 2008
‘‘It’s a bipartisan effort because it’s an issue that affects Republicans and Democrats alike,” said Olszewski, noting that a convicted predator who lives in his district had his three-year sentence cut in half as a result.
Law-and-order issues may be a strong theme during this year’s session, he said. ‘‘I think it’s the sleeping giant of the session. It’s the thing that people aren’t talking about a lot, but are concerned a whole lot about.”
Murder suspect held without bond - The Gazette
April 23, 2008
Harvey, a DNA analyst at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Rockville, was shot after returning home from an evening out with friends and colleagues, according to police. Just before she was shot, she spent some time cleaning out her car, which was parked next to the trash bins, Gaithersburg Police Chief John King said during a county police meeting last week.
In October 2000, Henderson, then 18, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for his role in two armed robberies and one attempted armed robbery in which he and a Germantown man cut female victims’ throats from behind. All but 12 years of the term were suspended. The Germantown man is serving a 26-year sentence with nine years suspended.
August 8, 2008
A fatal attack on a Gaithersburg woman in April is sparking interest in Montgomery County to support a Baltimore city effort to cut in half the monthly good behavior credits certain Maryland inmates receive.
The change will keep gun criminals in jail longer, which could have helped prevent the Montgomery County murder, said Capt. Mitch Cunningham, director of the information support and analysis division for the Montgomery County Police Department.
Crime, punishment on some agendas- The Gazette
January 11, 2008
‘‘It’s a bipartisan effort because it’s an issue that affects Republicans and Democrats alike,” said Olszewski, noting that a convicted predator who lives in his district had his three-year sentence cut in half as a result.
Law-and-order issues may be a strong theme during this year’s session, he said. ‘‘I think it’s the sleeping giant of the session. It’s the thing that people aren’t talking about a lot, but are concerned a whole lot about.”
Murder suspect held without bond - The Gazette
April 23, 2008
Harvey, a DNA analyst at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Rockville, was shot after returning home from an evening out with friends and colleagues, according to police. Just before she was shot, she spent some time cleaning out her car, which was parked next to the trash bins, Gaithersburg Police Chief John King said during a county police meeting last week.
In October 2000, Henderson, then 18, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for his role in two armed robberies and one attempted armed robbery in which he and a Germantown man cut female victims’ throats from behind. All but 12 years of the term were suspended. The Germantown man is serving a 26-year sentence with nine years suspended.
Diminution Credits
What are diminution credits?
Diminution credits are mechanism to reduce prison terms. Credits are given as a reward for good behavior and the engagement in activities such as educational programs, special projects and work programs. Each credit reduces prison term by one day.
What’s wrong with diminution credits?
There is no evidence that diminution credits have any effects on successful correction or rehabilitation.
The allocation of credits is plagued with serious errors. An audit from the Office of Legislative Audits in 2004, found that the Department of Corrections misallocated diminution credits in 1/3 of the cases studied. Approximately 78% of these errors were in favor of inmates, with an average early release of 19 days. The average release for offenders serving 10 or more years was even higher (32 days average early release). More importantly, the auditors found lack of documentation for credits received for specific work assignments.
Currently there are no restrictions on credits for individuals convicted of crime in which a firearm was used.
Diminution credits are mechanism to reduce prison terms. Credits are given as a reward for good behavior and the engagement in activities such as educational programs, special projects and work programs. Each credit reduces prison term by one day.
What’s wrong with diminution credits?
There is no evidence that diminution credits have any effects on successful correction or rehabilitation.
The allocation of credits is plagued with serious errors. An audit from the Office of Legislative Audits in 2004, found that the Department of Corrections misallocated diminution credits in 1/3 of the cases studied. Approximately 78% of these errors were in favor of inmates, with an average early release of 19 days. The average release for offenders serving 10 or more years was even higher (32 days average early release). More importantly, the auditors found lack of documentation for credits received for specific work assignments.
Currently there are no restrictions on credits for individuals convicted of crime in which a firearm was used.
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