The Maryland
Restorative Justice Initiative’s mission is to advocate and promote humane and sensible criminal justice and sentencing
policies for those incarcerated long term in Maryland prisons. We believe
that through actions of restoration, redemption and reconciliation, we can create long-term systemic change
Background
After serving
39 years for a crime he did not commit, and witnessing the dismal conditions of the Maryland Criminal Justice system, Walter
Lomax, in conjunction with the listed partners and sponsors, is organizing a seminar on May 14, 2008. The goals of the initial seminar are to bring together members of the three branches of the Maryland State
Government, along with members of Congress, advocates, volunteers, and professionals from various levels of society to foster
conversations around restorative and humane criminal justice policies to address existing systemic problems.
In a special
report published in “U.S. News & World Report by Alex Kingsbury, (Dec. 17th 2007) “There are more than 1.5 million people in state or federal prison for serious offenses and 750,0000
others in jail for more minor crimes. Prison populations have swelled since the early 1970s, and now offenders are returning
to their neighborhoods at a rate of more than 1,400 per day. In 1994, nearly 457,000 prisoners were released from state and
federal custody, and in 2005, almost 699,000 prisoners were released. That is the largest single exodus of ex-convicts in
American history. According to the most recent study on recidivism, in 1994, more than two thirds of prisoners- 68 percent-
ended up back behind bars within three years of release. It is that figure, little
changed for decades, that has community leaders and criminal justice experts focusing on a fresh approach.” We are seeking
to have Maryland become one of the cutting edge states in addressing those concerns.
Maryland,
like most states, has parole expectances built into its system. Most prisoners will begin their sentences in maximum security,
work their way into medium security, to minimum security and eventually to release. In 1993, the philosophy of sensible criminal
justice policies changed, and prisons in Maryland became more draconian in their approach. The philosophy of warehousing prisoners
until their release is not practical from a fiscal point of view nor from a humanistic one. The reality is that 95% of all
incarcerated individuals will be released back into the communities from which they came, and they will be without the skills
and necessary resources to function in society.
Just as seasons
change, so must philosophical and ideological concepts change when new and informed ideas occur. The changing of seasons bring with it new growth, so must the changing of philosophies and ideologies that
are no longer workable.
The pendulum has swung so far to the right; sensible people are now beginning to question the philosophy of Maryland's criminal
justice system. This new season is ripe with sound
reasoning.
Aims
and Objectives
The aims
and objectives of this initiative will be the crafting of smarter legislation and the redevelopment of policies so that individuals
who are spending many years in prison may receive meaningful consideration for release and supports. Our plan is to go beyond this inaugural conference and extend this initiative into the 2009
Maryland Legislative Session. This conference is the springboard to the larger
initiative.
Conference
topics included a discussion of the following:
- Viable programs for persons serving long-term incarceration. (Executive)
- Sensible Criminal Justice Policies. (Legislative)
- Education and Habilitation. (Executive)
- Community-based programs with inmate participation. (Executive)
- Programs for persons unable to move below medium security to demonstrate their soundness
for reentry back into society. (Executive)
- Belated sentence review for long-tern incarcerees. (Judiciary)
- Time reduction for good conduct. (Judiciary)
- Sentence reduction for health reasons. (Executive)
- Review of the Governor’s authority to sign for the release of parole eligible persons serving
life sentences. (Legislative)
- Parole for persons serving eligible life sentences after earning a certain number of diminution
credits. (Legislative)