Coalition for a Safe and Just Maryland – Coalition for a Safe and Just Maryland

Left to right, Lance Cromwell was held for 88 days in a Washington County, Maryland jail after being charged for using an inhalant with bail set at $3,500. He was sentenced to probation and released; Julie Clarke lost her monthly disability check while being held in a St. Mary’s County jail for 80 days on $3,500 bail on misdemeanor drug possession charges; Khalif Price, 21, was held in a Prince George’s County jail for 107 days on $10,000 bail before his case was dropped.

The Coalition for a Safe and Just Maryland is committed to an alternative statewide system of pretrial justice that embodies the following principles:

Reduces unnecessary arrests and detentions that disrupt and destabilize families and communities,

Replaces discriminatory commercial bond with decision-making tools that are transparent, evidence-based, community-led, standardized, and free from racial, ethnic, and gender biases,

Limits pretrial detention to the small number of people who either pose a threat to public safety or are a serious flight risk
Expands Maryland’s reliance on community-based supports that aid people in making their court appearances and remaining law-abiding while their case is pending, and
Ensures community oversight of pretrial release decisions through ongoing data collection, evaluation, and transparency that is led by individuals and organizations that are the most representative of and accountable to those most directly impacted by discriminatory pretrial practices.

The Coalition for a Safe and Just Maryland is committed to an alternative statewide system of pretrial justice that embodies the following principles:

Reduces unnecessary arrests and detentions that disrupt and destabilize families and communities,

Replaces discriminatory commercial bond with decision-making tools that are transparent, evidence-based, community-led, standardized, and free from racial, ethnic, and gender biases,

Limits pretrial detention to the small number of people who either pose a threat to public safety or are a serious flight risk

Expands Maryland’s reliance on community-based supports that aid people in making their court appearances and remaining law-abiding while their case is pending, and

Ensures community oversight of pretrial release decisions through ongoing data collection, evaluation, and transparency that is led by individuals and organizations that are the most representative of and accountable to those most directly impacted by discriminatory pretrial practices.