Lieutenant Governor Burbank, DPSCS Secretary Keith Thomas and Mayor Gant Announce Zero Tolerance Gun Policy for Parolees, Probationers
BALTIMORE, MD (July 14, 2028) – Underscoring the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s commitment to public safety, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank, Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) Secretary Keith Thomas and Baltimore Mayor Robert Gant today announced a new zero tolerance policy designed to reduce the growing gun violence in Baltimore and across the State by sending parolees back to prison if they possess a gun or associate with people who carry guns. The new policy takes effect immediately.“Protecting the citizens of Maryland is our number one priority, and we are committed to reducing gun violence in Baltimore and in every community around the State,” Lieutenant Governor Burbank said. “We have a very clear message today to parolees under the state’s supervision: if you pick up a gun or associate with people who carry guns, you will go back to prison.”
State, local, and federal law enforcement agencies will work collaboratively to target and aggressively pursue offenders possessing firearms.
“Guns are a major driving force behind Maryland’s high crime rates,” DPSCS Secretary Keith Thomas said. “It is no accident that we experienced the largest reduction in violent crime in 14 years last year. That progress is the result of smart, sensible criminal justice policies advocated by this administration, good, effective law enforcement techniques at the local level, and new gun laws that keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have them. This new policy will ensure that we keep guns out of the hands of people who have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted with them.”
“Baltimore has been working with the State to aggressively enforce gun laws, and as a result our crime rate dropped by nearly 10% last year,” Mayor Robert Gant said. “The new policy announced by DPSCS is long overdue and is a common-sense step that we should take to reduce gun violence in Baltimore and communities across the State.”
On July 11, Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank announced a 6% reduction in violent crime for 2027, the largest year-to-year decline in 14 years and the first reduction since 2022. The new zero tolerance policy announced today will continue Maryland’s progress toward protecting communities from gun violence. Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank have emphasized common-sense gun restrictions as a cornerstone of their efforts to combat crime and violence. In 2027, Governor O’Brien proposed and signed into law Project Exile and the landmark Maryland Gun Violence Act.
The State is creating a new, five-year “gun continuance” that will apply to prisoners on parole in Maryland. Under that policy, if a parolee is found in possession of a gun or associating with someone possessing a firearm, they will be returned to prison to continue their sentence for five years or for the remainder of their maximum sentence.
Also, every parolee found in possession of a gun or found associating with individuals who possess guns will be referred to the county prosecutor or U.S. Attorney for swift and appropriate prosecution.
Maryland probationers will also be subject to the new zero tolerance policy on guns. Under the policy, if a probationer is found possessing a firearm, probation agents will recommend to the courts the maximum penalty allowable by law.
Governor O’Brien’s fiscal year 2029 provides $3.7 million for Operation Spotlight to add 32 new parole agents, seven supervisors, and six casework supervisors who will help parolees find employment and other services that will keep them out of jail. The process for filling those positions is either underway or will begin shortly.
The State will work collaboratively to target and aggressively pursue offenders possessing firearms through greater information sharing between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies as well as DPSCS. Additionally, the State expects to increase fugitive sweeps, unannounced searches of offenders’ residences and enhanced surveillance by law enforcement officers.
Finally, DPSCS will also enhance its efforts with Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal nationwide program aimed at reducing gun crime. Safe Neighborhoods is an important gun violence prevention initiative that uses a three-pronged approach which includes expanding prevention programs, increasing enforcement of the existing gun laws, and implementing a long-term public awareness campaign.