Demand greater transparency in police misconduct investigations

Act Now

Demand greater transparency in police misconduct investigations!

Maryland ranks among the least transparent states with regards to police misconduct complaints. A large reason for that is Maryland’s current Public Information Act (MPIA).

Police on the Eastern Shore killed Anton Black, a 19-year-old Black teenager, and his family still hasn’t been able to find out the details of the officers’ investigations. That’s unacceptable.

Currently, if a Marylander files a complaint of police misconduct, they can’t find out how the department investigated the complaint. The problem is that the complaint is considered a “personnel record” under Maryland’s Public Information Act, and personnel records may never be disclosed.

The public should know how police misconduct is investigated, including whether body camera footage is reviewed and witnesses are being contacted, especially when police departments do not punish wrongdoing.

Changing this part of the MPIA is essential to make policing more transparent and ensure that Black and Brown Marylanders are protected.

Making policing transparent is one of five demands of the Maryland Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability, a large, diverse statewide coalition of more than 90 organizations working to reimagine policing in Maryland.

Send a message to your legislators to demand they amend the MPIA and pass Anton’s Law (HB 120 and SB 178) during Maryland's 2021 General Assembly session. Pass a strong bill and reject amendments to weaken it.

Please take action now.

Message Recipients:
Maryland State Senators

Pass Anton's Law (HB 120 / SB 178). Police misconduct investigations must be transparent. Action alert via Maryland Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability).

[The Form Label field is hidden on ACLU message action forms]

Your Message

Use the form to send a message to your legislator.

Subject

Dear Maryland Senators,

The public must know how police misconduct is investigated, especially when police departments do not punish wrongdoing. Under the current Maryland Public Information Act, investigations of police misconduct can never be released. This is unacceptable.

As a Maryland resident I urge you to amend the MPIA to ensure that Marylanders who file complaints of police abuse can find out how their complaints are handled. When a complaint is filed against the police, I deserve to know how it was investigated and that it was investigated thoroughly.

Anton’s Law (HB 120 / SB 178) would allow the complaint file to be removed from the MPIA’s personnel record category, so that a police department could disclose them in appropriate situations.

Our communities deserve transparency when complaints are unsustained because police departments often conduct slow, weak, or biased investigations and thereby find abusive officers innocent of wrongdoing.

Police cannot police themselves. Only when law enforcement agencies show the evidence, or lack of evidence, that justifies their decisions about complaints can we have the transparency and accountability needed to help Maryland families heal from police abuse.

Message Body

I urge you to pass a strong Anton’s Law bill (HB 120 / SB 178) to create more transparency in policing. Please reject amendments to weaken the bill.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

Your Information

All data you enter here will be shared with the message recipient along with your message, per our privacy statement.

Salutation *

(required by some officials)

ABOUT HONORIFIC TITLES

Many public officials use "web mail forms" that this system will send your message to, so you don't have to visit their web sites to communicate with them. The systems that some of these officials use requires that the honorific field be used (Mr., Mrs., Miss, etc.).

Unfortunately, we do not have control of which honorific titles are presented as options. We must adhere to what the officials are using in order for your message to be delivered.

Alternate Salutation

Most elected officials’ constituent email systems accept a very limited set of salutations. Please select the one you would most prefer.

First name *

Last name *

E-mail address *

Address *

Address Line 2

City *

State *

Zip Code *

Phone *

Phone Type *

Sign me up for ACLU emails so I can stay informed and take action to protect people's rights.

I agree to receive calls and texts (including automated recurring text messages) from the ACLU and its state affiliates at the number I provided above about ways to take action and support the ACLU organizations. Message & Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to quit. Privacy Statement

Leave this field blank