ATTENTION MARYLAND RESIDENTS: It's Crunch Time

Last night, I spoke again before the Gaithersburg City Council about the diminution credits issue that is now on the Maryland General Assembly's agenda. Here is the text from my speech.

Thank you. Back in November, Mayor Katz and the Gaithersburg City Council pledged its support for proposed legislation in the Maryland General Assembly that would limit the amount of good time -- or diminution -- credits that violent offenders in the Maryland prison system could receive towards early release. The call for this legislation was prompted by the murder of Lindsay Harvey, a Grove Park Apartments resident who last spring was shot and killed by a man who had been jailed for other violent crimes but was released from prison almost six years ahead of schedule, thanks in part to these good time credits.

I have some good news to report since last November. First of all, you will be very relieved to know that Shawn Henderson, the man who was charged with killing Lindsay Harvey, was convicted of her murder a few weeks ago and is now facing life in prison without the possibility of parole. I am also pleased to tell you that our proposed legislation regarding the diminution credits has been introduced in both the House of Delegates and the Maryland Senate. Senator Nancy King is the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 354, and Delegate Ben Kramer is the lead sponsor of House Bill 581. These bills would make it so that violent offenders can receive no more than 15% of the time off their sentences through diminution credits.

All of this notwithstanding, the issue remains the same. We have a correctional system in Maryland that we believe is far too lenient when it comes to issuing time off for good behavior for violent criminals and does not speak to the issue of whether these inmates are deserving or ready to be let loose into society. Senate Bill 354 and House Bill 581, if passed, would be an important first step towards ensuring that violent offenders serve as much time in prison as is necessary.

The passage of these bills is far from guaranteed. They will face strong opposition in both houses of the General Assembly. Because of this, I am asking you for your help. I would like all of you to please write to your state delegates and senators and urge them to support this legislation and get it passed. Tell them that you want your streets and your neighborhoods to be made as safe as possible and that you support this legislation.

I would also encourage you to visit our blog. That address is justice4safety.blogspot.com.

Time is of the essence here. The hearing on the House Bill is next Tuesday, March 10, and the hearing on the Senate Bill is on Wednesday, March 18.

On behalf of myself and the friends and family of Lindsay Harvey, I thank you all very much for your support.

It should be noted here that the proposed diminution credits legislation is now listed in a brochure describing the City of Gaithersburg's state legislative priorities for 2009. The section on diminution credits reads as follows:

- On April 13, 2008 a Gaithersburg resident was brutally murdered by a suspect who should have still been in jail for previous violent crimes.

- We are seeking passage of a bill that would prevent Maryland's violent offenders from receiving diminution credit (time off sentence for good behavior) for more than 15% of their sentence

- Passage of this bill will not affect a prisoner's ability to be released on parole or restrict a judge's ability to reduce a prisoner's sentence through a reconsideration hearing.

- U.S. Census Bureau data indicates that Maryland is the fifth most violent state in the nation.

The city is planning to send one of its representatives to testify at both hearings in Annapolis.

Remember those dates, everyone. March 10 is the day of the House bill hearing, and March 18 is the Senate hearing. Please WRITE TO YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES IN BOTH HOUSES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY and urge them to support these bills, especially they happen to sit on either of the judiciary committees in the General Assembly. If you do not know who your elected representatives are in the state of Maryland, you can find out by clicking here.

This issue is going to need all the help it can get. Our testimony in Annapolis alone will not get this legislation passed. Our legislators, YOUR legisators, need to hear from YOU!