That wasn't the case in 2023, and the elimination of that so-called 'summer spike' is the driving force behind Baltimore's overall progress at reducing yearly homicides, data shows. That reduction came in the first full summer since Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates took office and U.S. Attorney Erek Barron announced an aggressive, "Al Capone" strategy to target repeat violent offenders.
Yet enforcement has its place. When police officers look the other way over petty crimes that can still seriously impact qualify of life, a message is sent that the people of Baltimore don’t really care if you urinate in public or get drunk in public. Have at it. Unless boundaries are enforced — in a reasonable manner, appropriate to the crime — they often will inevitably be exceeded. That’s not an argument for locking everyone up, but it is a case for the citations Bates is authorizing, which carry consequences not just for offenders but for their parents, too, in certain cases.
Police planned to execute a search and seizure warrant at his home on the day of the shooting, but a scheduling conflict pushed back the date.
Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates joins The C4 and Bryan Nehman Show.
"My goal has been to have 50 new state's attorneys since the election. We've already reached out to now that we have 40 new assistant state's attorneys, 12 of which left the office and returned since the election (in January)," said Bates.
“That greatly binds us in terms of what kinds of cases we can prosecute,” she said. “The Department of Juvenile Services really is a gatekeeper with regards to cases.”
Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, who took office in January, held a news conference Thursday afternoon to announce the change, repeating a campaign promise to address so-called “quality of life” offenses. Bates said the program is a response to repeated complaints from residents who are “sick and tired” of seeing drug dealers on their blocks, among other problems. He said it will deliver a “return to accountability” in Baltimore and improve public safety.
Bates appeared beside the mayor and police commissioner to announce the plan that calls for officers to begin writing citations June 12. Adult offenders will be given two citations and offered community service before they will be prosecuted and face fines and jail time.
In this episode of 2 BMore, Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates reflects on his first 100 days in office, the hurdles, the expectations, and the reality of reducing violent crime in the city.
