Restoring Trust in BALTIMORE

Maryland Senators Ben Cardin (D.) and Barbara Mikulski (D.) have introduced the Building And Lifting Trust In order to Multiply Opportunities and Racial Equality” (BALTIMORE) Act. The bill includes Law Enforcement Reform (that also includes subtitles such as the End Racial Profiling Act and the Police Camera Act), Voting Rights Reform and Civil Rights Restoration, Sentencing Law Reform, and Re-Entry and Employment Law Reform. 

A partial press release is located after the jump. 

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Cardin, Mikulski Introduce Legislative Package to Restore Community Trust in Baltimore and Nationwide

The “BALTIMORE Act” reinforces civil liberties, promotes best practices in policing, encourages training and provides a second chance to those re-entering society

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (Both D-Md.) have announced the introduction of legislation designed to address many of the core issues that have led to an erosion of trust among communities and law enforcement. S. 1610, officially named the “BALTIMORE Act,” would help communities nationwide by “Building And Lifting Trust In order to Multiply Opportunities and Racial Equality” (BALTIMORE).

“It’s finally time that we took comprehensive steps to restore hope and trust in our neighborhoods. We need to ensure that all our citizens’ rights are preserved while giving police the tools they need to re-engage with the families and individuals they are there to protect,” said Senator Cardin. “I thank my colleagues who have contacted Senator Mikulski and me offering their help and willingness to work together to deal with the issues that have been raised in Baltimore and other cities around the country. The components of the BALTIMORE Act are powerful antidotes to many of the long-term ills facing our city and others. We must simultaneously promote more economic development and opportunities for our cities, but this bill gives individuals and law enforcement a second chance to do the right thing and contribute in a positive way for their families, their neighborhoods and the larger community.”

“Though the recent riots in Baltimore happened in my hometown, it easily could have happened in any of America’s hometowns,” Senator Mikulski said. “We must fix the frayed trust between our police and the communities they’re sworn to protect with more than a band-aid. That’s what this legislation does. Ending racial profiling, increasing accountability, collecting critical crime data like officer related shootings, and providing real strategies and resources to strengthen police-community relations will help protect the rights of every American, on every side of our justice system.”