FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Jan. 28, 2022
Wes Moore holds public safety roundtable discussion with experts and stakeholders
Representatives of the criminal justice system, public safety experts, criminal justice reform advocates, health care experts and community stakeholders closest to the issues offered solutions to statewide challenges
Moore emphasized his commitment to governing with evidence-based, people-centered approach to public safety
BALTIMORE (Jan. 28, 2022) – At a time when crime is pervasive, chronic, and on the rise across the country, Democratic candidate for Maryland Governor Wes Moore hosted a roundtable yesterday to discuss crime, public safety, violence prevention and criminal justice reform with experts and stakeholders from around the state.
With Maryland losing 573 residents to murder in 2020 and domestic violence increasing nearly 10 percent nationwide, the opportunity to host those closest to the problems was timely and inclusive. Representatives of the criminal justice system, public safety experts, criminal justice reform advocates, healthcare providers and community stakeholders discussed evidence-based approaches to addressing the root causes of crime and improving public safety for Marylanders.
“Marylanders deserve to feel safe in their homes, schools, places of worship and businesses,” Wes Moore said. “The Moore-Miller administration’s approach to crime will be people-centered and data-driven. We will implement evidenced-based solutions to improve public safety in our state – and we will do it while protecting the dignity of our people and addressing the longstanding inequities driving crime in our communities.”
Participants in the roundtable included Baltimore Community Mediation Center Director Ericka Bridgeford, Safe Streets Cherry Hill violence prevention coordinator Troy Bradley, Public Defender Michele Hall, Westminster Police Department Deputy Chief Rich Gibson, UMBC’s The Choice Program Director Eric Ford, Maryland Juvenile Justice Reform Council Member Eric Ford, Justice Jobs Executive Director Bob Clegg, Re-Entry and Addiction Specialist Dwayne Sumpter and Johns Hopkins Trauma Surgeon Dr. Joe Sakran.
Panelists emphasized how providing pathways to economic opportunity is not just key to rehabilitation and re-entry of returning citizens, but also vital to crime reduction and prevention.
“I have worked with young people who have unfortunately been killed, and oftentimes my clients are coming from the poorest communities,” said Public Defender Michele Hall. “They’re trying to find ways out of abject poverty and until we’re lifting up everyone and providing everyone with opportunities, [poverty] is part of what keeps these cycles of violence going.”
“Until we change our conditions, we’re going to continue having these problems,” said Safe Streets violence prevention coordinator Troy Bradley.
Other themes emerged including the disproportionate impact of violence on people of color, educational alternatives and youth programming, community policing, data-driven systems policing, problem-oriented policing, barriers to employment, conflict resolution and homicide and gun violence reduction.
In coming weeks, the Moore-Miller campaign will release its public safety policy, adding to a series of comprehensive policy frameworks, including a plan to unlock economic opportunity for Maryland’s Black families, an economic plan to increase work, wages, and wealth for every family in Maryland, an action plan to support Marylanders during the surge of COVID cases and a plan to build a cleaner, more prosperous Maryland.
Wes Moore and Aruna Miller’s rapidly growing coalition includes endorsements from former Governor and former Prince George’s County Executive Parris Glendening; Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman; Sen. Antonio Hayes (District 40); Sen. Cheryl Kagan (District 17); Sen. Delores Kelley (District 10); Sen. Obie Patterson (District 26); Del. Marlon Amprey (District 40); Del. Kumar Barve (District 17); Del. Lisa Belcastro (District 11); Del. Chanel Branch (District 45); Del. Frank Conaway, Jr. (District 40); Del. Anne Kaiser (District 14); Del. and Baltimore City Delegation Chair Stephanie Smith (District 45); Del. Melissa Wells (District 40); Bowie Mayor Pro Tem & Councilmember Adrian Boafo (District 3); Baltimore City Councilmember John Bullock (District 9); Baltimore City Councilmember Zeke Cohen (District 1); Baltimore City Councilmember Mark Conway (District 4); Baltimore City Councilmember Eric Costello (District 11); Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando (At Large); Baltimore County Council Chair and Councilmember Julian Jones (District 4); Baltimore City Councilmember Phylicia Porter (District 10); Baltimore City Councilmember Odette Ramos (District 14); Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin; Baltimore City Councilmember Robert Stokes (District 12); Baltimore City Councilmember James Torrence (District 7); former Maryland Democratic Party chairs Michael Cryor and Susie Turnbull; The Baltimore Fire Officers Union Local 964; and VoteVetsPAC, one of the top veterans advocacy organizations in the country.
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