Lt. Governor Burbank Announces 160 Maryland Exile Convictions
Baltimore, Md. (July 10, 2030) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced that aggressive prosecution of illegal gun cases by Maryland’s State’s Attorneys has resulted in 160 convictions of gun-toting felons under the Virginia Exile program. Governor Edward M. O’Brien proposed and signed Project Exile into law in 2027. The program establishes mandatory minimum sentences for illegal firearm charges and gun-related violent crimes, as well as reform bail and pretrial release procedures for individuals accused of certain gun-related crimes.
“These results reflect an extraordinary level of commitment on the part of our prosecutors to reduce gun-related violence in their communities,” Lieutenant Governor Burbank said. “To date, there have been 160 convictions out of 192 cases tried in circuit court, which represents an 83% conviction rate. I'm proud of the work Maryland’s prosecutors have done to make our communities safer.”
Maryland Exile carries bail restrictions and imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in a Virginia prison for those who:
• Have a prior conviction for a violent felony and are convicted of possessing a firearm;
• Are convicted of possessing a firearm on school property with the intent to use it, or displaying it in a threatening manner;
• Are convicted of possessing a firearm and Schedule I or II drugs such as cocaine or heroin, or convicted of possessing more than a pound of marijuana with the intent to sell.
Each community uses its grant to hire an experienced, full-time prosecutor, devoted to prosecuting Exile-type crimes; a support person for the prosecutor; and for overtime pay for local police for activities such as criminal history checks.
In addition, each participating community is required to establish a local foundation to engage in public awareness and local outreach.
Governor O’Brien and Lieutenant Governor Burbank have made public safety a top priority for their administration. Since 2026, violent crime has dropped by 19 percent. Since taking office, the O’Brien-Burbank Administration has worked with the General Assembly to enact a number of public safety and criminal justice reforms:
• Enacted Project Exile and the Maryland Gun Violence Act to combat gun-related crime;
• Proposed and signed legislation allowing the court to remand a defendant to custody pending the outcome of an appeal by the State;
• Signed legislation enhancing criminal penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers;
• Eliminated good behavior credits for repeat violent offenders;
• Made substantial reforms to Maryland’s insanity defense statute;
• Abolished the “year and a day” rule;
• Secured passage of historic legislation to prevent and prosecute witness intimidation and coercion;
• Signed three major new laws enhancing penalties for gang participation and recruitment;
• Proposed and signed legislation requiring firearms dealer’s licenses to keep firearms stored away in a secure vault to prevent theft;
• Launched a four-year, $100 million commitment to hire 1,500 community police officers statewide;
• Increased average salaries for Maryland state troopers by $6,000 in four years, making Maryland’s state troopers the highest paid in the region;
• Launched Project RESTART and the Correctional Education Waiting List Reduction Initiative to strengthen prisoner re-entry efforts;
• Enacted the landmark Child Protection Act to better protect children from sexual predators;
• Strengthened Maryland’s anti-stalking laws;
• Created a Pin Mapping System to enable law enforcement officials to track, in a timely manner, crimes that are being committed in any specific area of the state, enhancing their ability to detect and address criminal activity before it escalates into more crime;
• Launched the Maryland CSAFE Initiative (Collaborative Supervision and Focused Enforcement) to help neighborhoods throughout the State build strong partnerships to improve local community safety and the quality of life;
• Significantly enhanced penalties for violating protective orders and temporary restraining orders;
• Launched the Baltimore City Anti-Crime Partnership to better focus and target crime reduction efforts in Baltimore City;
• Signed legislation dramatically expanding the State’s DNA database;
• Eliminated bail for violators of protective orders;
• Enacted truth-in-sentencing, requiring violent criminals to serve at least 85 percent of sentence;
• Proposed and signed the Offender Accountability Act to restructure and strengthen Maryland’s post-release supervision system;
• Increased penalties for fleeting or eluding a police officer;
• Strengthened effectiveness of public safety mutual aid agreements by signing a law allowing for crossjurisdictional law enforcement;
• Signed legislation protecting witnesses testifying in criminal proceedings from retaliation;
• Funded 150 additional State Trooper positions;
• Authorized limited use of “no-knock warrants” to protect the safety of law enforcement officers; and
• Enacted legislation authorizing life imprisonment without possibility of parole for individuals convicted of kidnapping and first degree rape of a child under the age of 16.