County

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY on in the local and state level. I worked hard for my freedom. I want to give back to the community.” There’s one person he doesn’t plan to vote for: President Donald Trump. Turner-Bey won’t refer to him by name. “It’s time for the fool to go. The circus needs to be over,” he said minutes before he ate lunch at an IHOP restaurant. His meal, which he could relax and eat without being rushed: Felony Convictions strawberry and banana French toast, a Spanish omelet and lemon water. While Turner-Bey spends time Remain Hurdles to Voting relaxing with relatives in Charles County, he plans to research on the for Incarcerated and candidates running for office in that jurisdiction before he cast his vote for 5 Alonzo E. Turner-Bey at an IHOP restaurant Oct. 16, less than 2 ½ hours after his release from Jessup Correction Institution in Jessup, Md. (Photo courtesy of Earl Young Jr.) Returning Citizens the Nov. 3 election. “I want to see who is running for ship for mental disability and the appropriate court has found by clear and Republican-controlled state legislature put in a measure that forces court office and see what they have been do- convincing evidence that you cannot fees must be paid before regaining the By William J. Ford 1.7 percent of all non-Blacks. ing,” he said. “I need to know if you communicate, with or without ac- right to vote. The state, according to WI Staff Writer Alonzo Turner-Bey will no longer earned your position…” commodations, a desire to participate the report, leads the nation with an @jabariwilll be a part that percentage. An estimated 17,874 people in in the voting process.” estimated 1.1 million people disenThe 48-year-old Black man who Maryland prisons with a felony con- A person on probation can vote, franchised.

State officials have passed voting grew up in Southeast was released Fri- viction won’t be able to vote, according according to the law. The four other states behind Flormeasures to allow those incarcerated day, Oct. 16 from Jessup Correctional to a Sentencing Project report released Incarcerated individuals with mis- ida: Texas (500,474); Tennessee and those released from prison and Institution in Jessup, Md., where he Oct. 14. About 12,527 are Black. demeanor offenses and those held on (456,480); Virginia (366,064); and jail to have access to the ballot box, spent the last 31 years, six months and For those in Maryland jails, about pretrial status are eligible to vote. Alabama (328,198). but a new report highlights more than 15 days. His prison sentence began 783 out of 904 in jail are Black, ac- Maryland joins 16 other states Nicole Porter, director of advocacy five million people remain disenfran- April 1, 1989, at the age of 17 when cording to the report at https://bit. where those incarcerated for felony with The Sentencing Project that conchised. convicted of first-degree murder. ly/350DkHi. convictions in prison remain ineligible ducts research and analyzes criminal

The Sentencing Project’s report, “The first thing I did before I got According to state law, people in- to vote. justice topics, said voting rights need titled“Locked Out”, notes at least out was register to vote,” Turner-Bey eligible to vote are those convicted of Florida voters approved a measure to be restored for everyone. 6.2 percent of Black adults ages said an interview less than 2½ hours a felony and serving a court-ordered in 2018 to allow ex-felons, now for- “[Those incarcerated] remain citi18 and older nationwide still ar- after his release from prison. “Some of sentence; anyone convicted of buying merly called returning citizens, to vote zens and still have to pay taxes behind en’t able to vote, compared to only the most important things are going or selling votes; and “under guardian- after completing a sentence, but the the walls because they buy products from the commissary, they pay for Residents, Advocates Demand Police Reform, Accountability very expensive phone calls,” Porter said in an interview. “The criminal legal system acts as this mediator beBy William J. Ford change,” said Tahlita Hopkins, 48, tween the state and residents, particWI Staff Writer sister to Gary Hopkins Jr., who ularly Black and brown residents, in @jabariwill got shot and killed by police Nov. stripping people of their full civil and 27, 1999. “Your job is to serve and political rights.” Dorothy Copp Elliott said jus- protect the people and [police of- That’s why advocacy groups in tice remains unfulfilled after po- ficers] act like the people are their Maryland led a three-day tour this lice in Prince George’s County enemies.” month to all the jails in the state. The shot her 24-year-old son, Archie The rally happened two days af- message: ensure those eligible to vote “Artie” Elliott III approximately ter a 14-member work group com- while incarcerated can vote. 14 times while handcuffed in a prised of state delegates approved Earl Young Jr., who picked up police cruiser June 18, 1993. police reform recommendations. Turner-Bey from Jessup and released Pamela Brooks said Prince Some of the suggestions included from the same prison June 18, 2019, George’s police are culpable for the repealing the controversial Law said groups such as Maryland Justice death of her 17-year-old son, Amir Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Project and Out For Justice helped Brooks, who died from his injuries Rights, a limit on no-knock war- spread the word about various proAug. 6, 2014, while riding a dirt rants and a ban on chokeholds. grams that reached “behind the walls.” bike and being chased by police State senators from the Judi- “[There are] so many programs into Southeast D.C. cial Proceedings Committee also that I wanted to be a part of prior to These mothers and other fam- presented proposed legislation on coming home,” said Young, 52, who ily members whose loved ones similar police reform last month. began a job as a mentor for the Baltieither died, or became victims of The goal for lawmakers will be more City Public Schools on Sept. 3, police-involved incidents came to- to draft the items into legislation 2019, less than three months after his gether at a police reform rally Sat- when lawmakers are scheduled to release. “We were in JCI together and 5 Dorothy Copp Elliott speaks about her son, Archie “Arite” Elliott III during a police urday, Oct. 17 in Forestville. reconvene Jan. 13. talked about how we can support each reform rally Oct. 17 in Forestville. Police shot her son 14 times during a traffic stop in District “I want to see the laws changed other and be a part of our community.

Heights on June 18, 1993, causing his death. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer) and the [police] mindset needs to RALLY Page 44 Now we are released. It’s surreal.” WI

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Md. Lawmakers Prepare to Draft Police Reform Recommendations

By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill

When Maryland lawmakers reconvene for business in January, braced for a battle over police reform, they will have the results of a special work group of delegates to guide them.

A major recommendation approved last week by a 14-member work group from the House of Delegates would be repeal the controversial Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights statute. Maryland became the first state in the nation to establish it in 1974 that some believe gives police broad protections without accountability.

“Maryland provided the blueprint to America on how to protect corrupt and racist cops by passing the LEOBR and providing these undue and unnecessary protections for law enforcement officers that ordinary citizens do not have,” Del. Gabriel Acevero (D-Montgomery County) said Thursday, Oct. 15.

Current and former law enforcement officials say it protects a police officer’s constitutional rights. In addition, those such as Del. Michael Jackson (D-District 27B), a former Prince George’s County sheriff, said it’s better to re-examine the current law.

“I think LEOBR can be broken down and we go through each piece of it,” said Jackson, who represents portions of Prince George’s and Calvert counties and is the only Democrat to vote with the four Republicans against the repeal. “There are segments to this body of work that are worth discussing.”

The group, created this summer by House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County), was spurred by the police-related death of George Floyd, a Black man, in Minneapolis, which spawned worldwide protests and some local officials to implement policy changes regarding police conduct.

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee held three straight days of hearings last month over police reform measures including proposed legislation to require drug and alcohol testing of officers involved in a fatality and to reduce from five days to three the period during which a police officer can receive counsel and be interrogated for an alleged offense.

Such measures are among changes that could police agencies throughout the state.

Another proposal under review would punish with as much as fiveyear prison terms officers found guilty of violating use-of-force statutes and up to 10 years in prison for “knowing and willful” violations of police abuse laws.

Minority Whip Kathy Szeliga, who represents portions of Baltimore and Harford counties, said the Baltimore County Fraternal Order of Police supported the county council passing language that allows officers some leeway to defend themselves but not the use of neck restraint, which she said happened to Floyd.

Her proposed measure to limit use of the tactic to instances in which an officer faces death or serious injury, it was defeated.

Del. Jason Buckel (R-Allegheny County) said the ban shouldn’t be managed by lawmakers.

5 Janna Parker, center, speaks during a rally against police brutality Sept. 12 in Fort Washington. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

“You cannot legislate a fight,” he said. “We are talking about someone who is physically resisting an officer’s arrest, lawful command, or is threatening the officer with violence or another individual. I don’t think we are doing anyone a service by saying the use of chokeholds is prohibited.”

Del. Debra Davis (D-Charles County) disagreed.

“We do legislate fights,” she said. “Anytime you cut off someone’s right to breath, that is deadly force.”

Other reforms recommended for legislative reform included requiring an officer to intervene when another officer uses excessive force, creation of an “early warning system” to identify officers whose “behavior is problematic” and limiting use of no-knock warrants “as a last resort” when the life of an officer or civilian are in danger.

“We have made some really strong recommendations that are going to move Maryland forward…particularly for minorities,” said Del. Vanessa Atterbeary (D-Montgomery County), who chaired the group. WI

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