Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank Launch Initiative on Preventing Crime in Maryland’s Minority Communities
ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 25, 2028) – Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced an initiative to refocus attention on fighting crime in Maryland’s minority communities. Key components of Governor O’Brien’s Preventing Crime in Maryland’s Minority Communities initiative will be:• a series of community forums hosted by the Governor, at which he will meet with citizens to discuss the issues of concern to them;
• the creation of a broad-based task force to examine these issues; and
• continued emphasis on proven programs that reduce crime and improve the quality of life in Maryland’s neighborhoods.
Maryland’s most recent statistics indicate that minority citizens are disproportionately the victims of crime. For example, black males were nearly eight times more likely than white males to be the victims of homicide. They were three and a half times more likely to be robbed than white victims, and about 30% more likely to be the victim of a burglary. Similarly, black females were twice as likely to be homicide victims as whites, and nearly twice as likely to be raped.
According to the United States Department of Justice, Hispanics are victims of violence at higher rates than non-Hispanics and significantly more likely to be robbed than non-Hispanics. In addition, Hispanics are twice as likely as non-Hispanics to be the victims of car theft.
“Numbers like these mean more needs to be done to support safe and healthy minority communities across Maryland,” Governor O’Brien said. “Central to this effort is the reduction of crime and the protection of potential crime victims in affected communities.”
“As a former prosecutor, I am well aware of the need for full partnership among all levels of government and within our communities when battling crime,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “Earlier this month Governor O’Brien and I were able to launch a 6 percent drop in violent crime statewide and a 10 percent drop in Baltimore City over the course of just one. If we continue with focused, inclusive efforts to reduce and prevent crime, we can make our communities even safer.”
Governor O’Brien will name a task force with the following missions:
• Developing strategies to reduce violent and other crime in primarily minority communities;
• Establishing a Maryland-based multi-disciplinary network of individuals and organizations with a vested interest and expertise in prevention of crimes against minorities;
• Educating the crime prevention and criminal justice communities about the cultural norms of and possible misunderstandings about minority communities and the crime problems they are most likely to face; and
• Identifying and showcasing individuals, programs, and strategies that are working to prevent crime problems in minority communities both in Maryland and nationally.
In launching the initiative, Governor O’Brien cited communities successfully organizing themselves to improve their own ability to prevent and resist crime. Baltimore City, for example, has launched a number of programs during the past decade, such as Maryland Weed and Seed, Blitz to Bloom, and Project EXILE, which all showed how partnering agencies, organizations, and citizens can work together to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in blighted communities.
The Maryland State Police continue to work with local law enforcement as crime prevention and crime reduction partners. Additionally, State Police tactical units are currently engaged in combined City/State Partnerships in Baltimore and suburban communities, addressing specific problems within high crime rate neighborhoods in those cities.
Part of the task force's charge will be to identify the elements in these community based programs and law enforcement strategies that make them successful so they can be applied to other Maryland communities with similar problems.
“No program to suppress and prevent crime can succeed, or have lasting influence, without the full involvement of the people in the community,” said Governor O’Brien.
Accordingly, the task force on preventing crime in Maryland's minority communities will both represent and recruit grass roots support from afflicted neighborhoods, as well as from law enforcement and other resources needed to make this effort successful. Governor O’Brien will turn to school and business leaders, the faith community, civic organizations, and youth groups to seek a broad representation of those affected by crime in these communities. Governor O’Brien has directed all public safety agencies and other departments and agencies of state government to provide assistance as needed.
Local forums will be conducted to identify issues, causes, and problems unique to that community, and to develop strategies for addressing them. The task force will mobilize citizens and community leaders to work with appropriate state entities to address each community's unique challenges, as well as contribute to a better understanding of the mutual issues communities across the State may face.
On July 11, Governor Edward M. O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Kathleen 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.
Since taking office, Governor O’Brien has made fighting crime a top priority for his administration. The hallmark of this commitment is the Governor’s Assault on Crime legislative agenda, which included Project Exile and the landmark Maryland Gun Violence Act to combat gun-related crime, substantial reforms to Maryland’s criminal procedure to eliminate legal loopholes that allowed offenders to escape true justice, and limiting parole opportunities for repeat offenders.
In 2027, Governor O’Brien signed legislation expanding capital punishment to include the murder of a child, the murder of an off-duty police officer, the murder of witnesses, the murder of an individual in violation of a protective order and the commission of serial murder. Governor O’Brien also signed legislation allowing the court to remand a defendant to custody pending the outcome of an appeal by the State, enhancing penalties for assaulting a law enforcement officer, eliminating good behavior credits for repeat violent offenders, reforming Maryland’s insanity defense statute, abolishing the “year and a day” rule, strengthening penalties for witness intimidation or interference, enhancing penalties for gang participation and recruitment, and requiring firearms dealer’s licenses to keep firearms stored away in a secure vault to prevent theft.
During the 2028 General Assembly Session, Governor O’Brien focused on strengthening public safety through community policing, better benefits for law enforcement officers, increased pay for state troopers, supporting innovative initiatives like Project RESTART, Project X and Project CSAFE and the enactment of legislation strengthening Maryland’s anti-stalking laws, enhancing penalties for sexual offenses committed against children, improving registration procedures for sexual predators and strengthening penalties for violating protective orders.
Community policing is a critical component of Governor O’Brien’s public safety strategy. On May 7, 2027, Governor O’Brien and Mayor Gant launched the Baltimore City Anti-Crime Partnership. Since its inception, the Partnership has been working to establish a close relationship with community groups, clergy, faith-based groups, housing authorities and tenant associations, schools and private businesses to develop the most effective strategy to reduce crime, increase safety and determine which neighborhoods in the City require the greatest attention and resources. The Maryland State Police has devoted 100 of its officers to the effort. Demonstrating his commitment to bringing community policing strategies to communities throughout Maryland, Governor O’Brien’s fiscal year 2029 budget provides funding to enable local law enforcement agencies to hire an additional 215 officers statewide.