Crime

| Gangs | Witness Protection | Illicit Drugs |

IN DEPTH: Press Releases

Cities throughout the country are witnessing an increase in criminal activity, a trend that is destroying our communities. The FBI released a report in September showing the most significant increase in crime in more than a decade. Additionally, the report showed an increase in violent crime for the second time in two years, indicating the first steady increase in violent crime since 1993. These numbers are staggering.

Baltimore City is by no means immune to this crime epidemic, having already surpassed the number of homicides at this time last year by double digits. This is not only a problem for the communities in Baltimore City; it also affects surrounding communities who experience spillover effects.

There is no quick fix to this problem, and we cannot focus on just one isolated contributing factor to save our communities from crime. We must tackle this crisis from all aspects, and that means everyone coming together at all levels—law enforcement, the federal, state, and local governments, schools, clergy, local neighborhoods, and families.

Gangs

Gangs are a very real and serious threat which know no geographical, socio-economic, or racial boundaries. They are not just plaguing our inner cities—we are finding them in increasing numbers in the suburbs, as well. One need not look any further than the 7th Congressional District of Maryland to see examples of this. Recent statistics show that gang activity is not limited to Baltimore City. In fact, every precinct in Baltimore County has some form of gang activity, and there are a number of gangs operating in Howard County, including Bloods, Crips, Vatos Locos, and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), which has the largest presence and which has been linked to serious crimes.

While it is important to ensure that we have laws and harsh penalties in place to fully prosecute those who are committing gang-related crimes, we must also work to prevent gang activity from occurring in the first place. I have hosted several events throughout the 7th District to educate parents, teachers, and other members of the community about the signs and language of gang activity. It is vital that we be able to recognize these signs to ensure that we do not mistakenly dismiss dangerous communication as harmless slang or useless doodling. These forums also focus on how to approach young people to address the topic of gangs, as well as how to report gang activity without becoming a target for retaliation.

Gangs are successful at recruiting our youth because they offer the promise of fulfilling needs that are not being met elsewhere in our children’s lives. This may take the form of providing a “family” for a child who feels neglected or unloved at home, providing a sense of accomplishment for children who are insecure, offering protection, or providing these young people with material belongings they could not otherwise afford. Occasionally, gangs are appealing simply because they offer something to do after school.

Whatever the allure of gangs to our children, we must come together as a community to minimize these risk factors. The number one preventive action we can take to help our children avoid gang involvement is strong parenting. We must be active in their lives, whether it is helping them with their homework, sitting down to eat dinner with them, or just talking to them about the events taking place in their daily lives.

We must be proactive in knowing whom our children are befriending and what they do in their spare time. We must ensure that our children know they are loved and valued. We must keep informed of their progress in school and be in communication with their teachers. We must provide constructive activities to keep them engaged.

I will continue to work at the federal level as well as with our community to do everything in my power to stop the activities of gangs in our neighborhoods.

Witness Protection

One step in reducing the violence in our community is through the recognition that without witnesses, there can be no justice. Known murderers walk the streets every day because we lack the evidence necessary to bring them to justice. One of the largest contributing factors to this lack of evidence is the “Stop Snitchin’” movement that is taking hold and frightening witnesses into remaining quiet.

While Baltimore City is ridden with acts of witness intimidation, we are by no means alone. Nearly every day I see a story in the news about a case of witness intimidation, whether murder, verbal threats, or acts of violence such as firebombing witnesses’ homes. These crimes are taking place across the country—in Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Denver, Los Angeles, Tulsa, and even in small towns.

One major obstacle in preventing acts of witness intimidation is a lack of funding for witness protection programs. Inadequate funds and budget cuts are forcing cities and counties into terminating witness protections services. When law enforcement does not have the necessary resources to offer protection, it becomes that much more difficult for the district attorney to convince witnesses to come forward.

I have been working closely with Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia Jessamy to help curb witness intimidation and spread the message that coming forward as a witness crime is the right thing to do. We recently created a public service announcement explaining how to come forward if you have witnessed a crime or if you have already come forward and feel you may be in danger.

Additionally, I introduced legislation at the federal level, the Witness Security and Protection Act, H.R. 933, to provide $270 million in federal funds to assist state and local prosecutors with the protection of people who have witnessed violent crimes. We are expecting this bill to be up for a vote in the House of Representatives this fall.

We must not allow criminals to continue their violence against witnesses, and I will continue fighting to ensure that local law enforcement has the necessary tools to protect our victims and witnesses.

Illicit Drugs

Gangs and crime go hand-in-hand with illegal drug use, and I have long been a leader in working to ensure that we have an effective and efficient national drug control policy. I teamed up with Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) to establish the Congressional Caucus on Drug Policy, of which I am currently Chairman. I believe that we cannot effectively eradicate the drug problem ravaging our communities simply by locking away drug dealers and users. Rather, I believe that we must tackle this issue from all fronts in order for it to be successful—prevention, treatment, supply reduction, and law enforcement.

During my tenure as the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, I led the charge to renew the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), also known as the Drug Czar’s office. This re-authorization of ONDCP H.R. 6344 (Public Law 109-469) secured funding for critical programs such as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas and the Byrne JAG, both of which provide necessary funding to law enforcement. It also improved access to buprenorphine, a highly effective, low-risk treatment for opiate dependency that has helped thousands of drug addicts in the 7th District and around the country.

Individuals who suffer from drug addiction deserve the opportunity to access the services needed to fully recover. I have been a strong supporter of such services as the Drug Courts, which offer individuals the opportunity to receive help for their addictions before they commit violent crimes. Additionally, I am a co-sponsor of the Second Chance Act, H.R. 1593, which provides drug treatment and other necessary services to people in jail so that they may re-enter society as drug-free, tax-paying citizens upon their release.

Sadly, our national drug control policy is unfairly applied, disproportionately impacting African Americans and other minorities. In my commitment to overcome this gross injustice, I have co-sponsored the Crack-Cocaine Equitable Sentencing Act, H.R. 460, which will fix the discrepancies in mandatory minimum sentences for powder cocaine and crack-cocaine. Powder cocaine, more commonly used by affluent whites, currently has a significantly smaller mandatory minimum sentence than does crack-cocaine, which is more commonly used by low-income minorities. I have also been working to enlist my colleagues who are working to fight methamphetamine abuse in mostly rural communities to adopt a similar approach toward heroin and cocaine policy—problems more common in urban communities like Baltimore.

There is still much work to be done in the ongoing battle against illicit drug use and abuse in our communities, but I am dedicated to fighting this issue from every angle to ensure the most effective policy possible.