* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmembers Clarke, Holton
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
In Support of State Legislation - Senate Bill 211/House Bill 225 - Criminal Law - Death Penalty - Repeal
FOR the purpose of supporting this legislation that would repeal the death penalty, repeal procedures and requirements related to the death penalty, and provide that inmates who have been sentenced to death may not be executed and shall be considered as having received a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole under specified circumstances; urging the Honorable Chair and Members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Judiciary Committee, and the Baltimore City Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly to support passage of the legislation; and petitioning the Governor to sign the measure into law.
Body
Recitals
This legislation repeals the death penalty in the State of Maryland by repealing the procedures and requirements related to the death penalty and by providing that inmates who have been sentenced to death will be considered as having received a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. By passing this legislation and repealing the death penalty, Maryland's unfair and excessively expensive death penalty system will cease to exist, and, in its place, Marylanders will be provided with the viable alternative of life without the possibility of parole.
According to Maryland Citizens Against State Executions (MD CASE), 58% of Baltimore City residents do not support the death penalty. With the crime rate in Baltimore City being as high as it is, Baltimore City law enforcement and prosecutors cannot afford the excessive investment of time, effort, and manpower in prosecuting the small minority of death eligible cases that utilize and require a disproportionate use of resources.
Many of Maryland's elected leaders are ready to repeal the death penalty. Governor Martin O'Malley has stated publicly that he believes the death penalty to be an ineffective crime-fighting tool, and he supports repealing it, as do many of the legislators in the General Assembly. In January, the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled to suspend executions and require that the lethal injection process be redeveloped and submitted for regulatory review. This Court ruling affords the chance for Marylanders to reconsider our State's death penalty and decide whether it is a wise or fair use of State resources.
According to MD CASE, there is significant support for repeal among Maryland's African American community - a key demographic in our City. Sixty-nine percent of African American voters in Maryland support replacing the death penalty with life without parole. On January 19 and 20, 2007, Morgan State University and Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree hosted a Summit on Race and the Death Penalty. African American clergy from around the State, former and current law enforcement and elected officials spoke in support of repeal at this gathering of Maryland's top religious, political, and community leaders. Former Mayor Kurt Schmoke and former Attorney General J. Joseph Curran participated on a panel of law enforcement specialists who believe repeal is the best option for Maryland.
Death penalty cases around the country are on the decline, reaching their lowest point in 30 years, and, in 2006, 10 states effectively passed execution suspensions. The national trend is moving steadily away from supporting the death penalty, generating momentum for repeal around the country. Baltimore City has the opportunity to be at the forefront of support for legislation that would reinstate fairness and justice to our criminal justice system.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body supports this legislation that would repeal the death penalty, repeal procedures and requirements related to the death penalty, and provide that inmates who have been sentenced to death may not be executed and shall be considered as having received a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole under specified circumstances; urges the Honorable Chair and Members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Judiciary Committee, and the Baltimore City Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly to support passage of the legislation; and petitions the Governor to sign the measure into law.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Honorable Chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and the Honorable Chair of the House Judiciary Committee are respectfully requested to include this Resolution as part of the Committee record in support for Senate Bill 211/House Bill 225.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor, the Mayor, the Honorable Chair and Members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Judicial Committee, the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly, the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of State Relations, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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