Baltimore City’s residents give voiCe to what’sneeded to fix the Criminal justiCe system

marCh 2009

B e a r i n g

W i t n e s s :

Bearing Witness

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The contributing organizations would like to thank the Open Society Institute – Baltimore, without whom thisproject would not have been possible. We extend a special thanks to the report’s primary author and research-er, Shakti Belway, who was privileged to spend nearly a year in Baltimore learning rom and working with theindividuals who contributed to this report. We are grateul to Anthony (Mujahid) Veniey or his time and cre-ative eorts as the photographer or this project. We also thank Sheila Bedi or conceptualizing and planningthis project. The Justice Policy Institute sponsored and supported this work to its completion.

Cb oz

The ollowing organizations contributed to this project. Descriptions o each organization can be ound at the end o this publication. Alternative DirectionsAsbury United Methodist ChurchBaltimore City Police Department Baltimore’s Sae and Sound CampaignThe Community Conerencing CenterDrug Policy AllianceFamilies Against InjusticeFreedom Advocates Celebrating Ex-OendersJericho, ECSMJustice MarylandJustice Policy InstituteLegal Aid o BaltimoreMarion HouseMaryland Citizens Against State ExecutionsThe Maryland Justice Policy InstituteThe Maryland Restorative Justice InitiativeMayor Sheila Dixon’s Oce o Criminal JusticeMothers-in-Charge Baltimore/Joy or HealingNational Women’s Prison Project Open Society InstituteOut or JusticePower InsidePrisoners Aid Association o MarylandProject SERVE, Living ClassroomsSae Streets/East State’s Attorney Patricia JessamyStruever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, Inc.United Workers AssociationViolence Prevention Program

Executive Summary 3Introduction 5

M h Uqu nd  Wm d Fm 6

Policy context:

Women are uniquely impacted by the criminal justice system10

c h rvv D: rm P d Pb 11

Policy context:

Parole and probation oten serve as a revolving door, trappingpeople in the criminal justice system13

a Pub Hh apph  Du U d add 14

Policy context:

Increasing the availability o treatment or addiction preserves publicsaety while saving taxpayers money18

sz h oppu  ch: iv  su 19

Policy context:

Reinvesting in communities is a prevention strategy that benefts publicsaety in the long-term24

emb rv Ju: Fu  H h Hm cud b V 25

Policy context:

Restorative justice has been shown to better meet the needs o communitiesthan criminal justice processes28

rmmd 29

Addressing the needs o women and amilies 29Closing the revolving door 29Achieving a public health approach to drug addiction 29Expanding opportunities and investing in solutions 30Increasing the use o restorative justice in Maryland 30About this Project 31Contributing Organizations 32

C o n t e n t s