About Our Office
The Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City (BCSAO) is responsible for prosecuting crimes in Baltimore City. The BCSAO is the largest local prosecutorial office in the state of Maryland and prosecutes over 40,000 cases yearly.
Relentlessly committed to accountability, equity, partnership, professionalism, and transparency — the BCSAO is working to create a future where community trust in the criminal justice system is restored, violent offenders are held accountable, low-level offenders are provided the resources they need to alter their trajectories, and communities in Baltimore once again feel safe.
Thereby, the entire team at the BCSAO is committed to the mission and vision of the office and applies one standard of justice to every aspect of their work.
Our Mission
Our Vision
The Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City (BCSAO) — relentlessly committed to accountability, equity, partnership, professionalism, and transparency — is working to create a future where community trust in the criminal justice system is restored; violent offenders are held accountable, low-level offenders are provided the resources they need to alter their trajectories, and communities in Baltimore once again feel safe.
The BCSAO delves to cultivate an environment where success is measured not by the number of convictions obtained or the length of sentences but by how we engage communities and apply justice independent of one's sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, or occupation.
Pillars of the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office
Fairness
Fairness in the pursuit of violent criminals and in the diversion of those who require services to help them out of the cycle of criminal prosecution.
Accountability
Accountability of prosecutors to pursue an exemplary standard of advocacy and justice while focusing on repeat, violent offenders who continue to plague our city.
Collaboration
Collaboration with key stakeholders, internally and externally, because effective crime reduction is a collective effort to be undertaken by the SAO, BPD, City Hall, the Governor’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the community.
Technology-Driven
Technology-Driven use of training and modern processes that allow implementation of innovative tactics and methods to pursue justice in a way that is holistic and strategic while equipping the assistant state’s attorneys with the tools they need to do the work pursued.
Set the Standard
The BCSAO will be the pinnacle of what a modern-day prosecutors’ office should be, with improved resources, training, and diversion strategies that are rooted in community collaboration.
Meet the State's Attorney Ivan J. Bates
Office Overview
Learn about our leadership, divisions, and key information about the State's Attorney's Office.
