MD's Plummeting Clearance Rates, Complicated 2023 Crime Landscape & More

"Because five years after the First Step Act, we can say with certainty that these types of reforms make America stronger and safer, but there is more work to be done."

Five years after the federal First Step Act reshaped America's criminal justice landscape, U.S. Senator Durbin and First Step Act beneficiary Matthew Charles joined forces to defend its success and advocate for continued policy progress on its five year anniversary. The Act's impact on reducing recidivism, federal prison overcrowding, and unfair sentencing practices was on clear display during last week's Senate hearing on the law.

"The variance in trends now requires leaders to shift attention from broad national explanations to local factors. It is essential to identify what’s driving crime in local communities."

A new study by the Council on Criminal Justice is offering a nuanced perspective on the evolving crime landscape as statistics from last year come into clearer focus. The toplines are promising, with crime largely returning to pre-COVID pandemic levels. However, the details paint a more complex picture. While homicides showed a promising 10% decrease in 2023 compared to 2022, other violent offenses such as aggravated assaults and gun assaults experienced marginal reductions, while carjackings and robberies saw increases. Property crime trends were mixed, with decreases in residential burglaries and larcenies but a significant rise in motor vehicle thefts, emphasizing the need for targeted, evidence-based crime prevention efforts at local, state, and federal levels.

"In mid-2022, Ring disclosed it handed over 11 videos to police without notifying users that year due to "exigent or emergency" circumstances, one of the categories that allow it to share videos without permission from owners."

Amazon-owned Ring is discontinuing its controversial "Request for Assistance" tool, ceasing police departments' ability to request doorbell camera footage from users. The decision comes amidst increasing concerns about privacy and surveillance, with critics arguing that such collaborations turn neighborhoods into constant surveillance zones. The update marks the latest in Ring's efforts to address privacy issues on its Neighbors app.

"I think what a lot of people don't understand is how difficult it is to get out of prison. People who get out really don't want to go back. And they are so hard working and loyal, and just grateful." 

The California Department of Correction reports a high rate of recidivism, with over 60% of released inmates re-offending within three years. However, initiatives like the Homecoming Project are aiming to break this cycle by connecting those leaving incarceration with homeowners willing to provide them a supportive environment. Offering a stipend of $45 a day, the project has seen remarkable success, with 100% of participants securing affordable housing, 95% finding employment, and none returning to prison, highlighting the transformative impact of compassionate re-entry programs.

"Except for robbery, violent crimes in Maryland are more likely to be unsolved today than a decade ago."

Amid a deescalating crime landscape nationally, issues of solving violent crimes continue to persist in cities and states across the country. Among them: Maryland, where a staggering 64% of violent crimes in 2022 went unsolved, according to a presentation by the Council of State Governments Justice Center. Racial disparities in crime trends were emphasized in the group's report, with homicides of Black victims being twice as likely to go unsolved as those of White victims, adding urgency to the state's law enforcement capacity challenges and the need for community participation in the criminal justice system.