Maryland Attorney General Establishes Online Portal To Report Hate Crimes

The new portal has been established in response to the continued increase in hate crimes and bias incidents in Maryland, according to Attorney General Anthony Brown. The Maryland Attorney General's Office recently launched a new online portal residents can use to report hate crimes and bias incidents. According to Brown, 465 hate crimes and hate bias incidents were reported in 2022 compared to 388 reports in 2021. This is over double those reported 10 years ago.

According to Brown, "For too long, hate crimes have been underreported and underestimated, but victims don’t have to suffer in silence. I am listening. This new portal is a safe place to speak up. It will help us all understand how widespread these incidents are, so we can better address them."

The portal's reporting form will be used to track hate crimes and bias incidents in Maryland and to help identify trends. The information collected through the portal will also help officials better respond to hate crimes in the state. All reports can be submitted anonymously. Residents should use the portal only after reporting the incident to the police. The portal also contains information to help Marylanders identify hate crimes and resources for victims. Whether victim or bystander, residents are urged to report the hate crime or bias incident.

The Attorney General's Office has released a video to show residents how to use the portal. The portal can be accessed at nohomeforhate.md.gov.

Read the June 14, 2024 Baltimore Patch article.

Conference on "Beyond Confinement: Rethinking Corrections & Rehabilitation in Maryland"

Maryland Alliance on Justice Reform to hold Free Corrections Reform Conference on September 9th

The Maryland Alliance for Justice Reform is hosting an important event from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 9th at the University of Baltimore School of Law on "Rethinking Corrections and Rehabilitation" in preparation for the 2024 legislative session and beyond.  

Featured speakers include Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services, and Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown.  

Major sessions will be:

Re-imagining Maryland’s Approach to Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Justice Reinvestment.

(1) Demystifying and Reforming Maryland's Parole Policies and Practices - This engaging discussion will highlight the current policies and practices associated with seeking parole in Maryland and the decision-making process.

(2) Unlocking Potential through Correctional Education - This panel discussion delves into the transformative impact of correctional education, exploring how it equips individuals with essential skills, knowledge, and opportunities for personal growth, fostering a pathway towards successful reintegration into society upon release.

(3) Navigating Rehabilitation Implementation within Correctional Facilities - The lecture explores solutions-focused approaches for navigating the complexities associated with rehabilitation implementation.

Correctional Oversight.

(4) No Excuses: Preparing for Reentry & Reintegration in Maryland - This panel will explore the implementation of successful strategies and innovative approaches to reshape and address reentry challenges, ultimately ensuring the success of all returning citizens.

(5) Reimagining Corrections - The panel discussion, "Reimagining Corrections," delves into innovative approaches to transforming the traditional corrections system.

(6) Policy Reform & Legislative Advocacy - This session provides an overview of various legislative proposals that impact corrections championed by MAJR and partner organizations.

Detailed information is available at this link. 

Register Now for this important (free) conference!

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Source: https://www.ma4jr.org/