In the News

Browse news coverage about the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Maryland appellate opinion in Adnan Syed case sparks debate over scope of crime victims’ rights

State law says crime victims or people representing them should be treated with “dignity, respect, and sensitivity during all phases of the criminal justice process.” The Appellate Court of Maryland said Tuesday that didn’t happen last September, when Lee’s brother, Young Lee, got short notice of a hearing that terminated Syed’s murder conviction. He was able to attend that proceeding not in person, but by video call. 

Ivan Bates in Annapolis to push gun bill

Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates appeared before a senate committee on March 21st pushing his bill to raise the maximum penalty for illegal gun possession from 3 years to 5 years for those 21 and older. With just 3 weeks left in the legislative session, the fate of the bill still remains unclear. 

State's Attorney Ivan Bates on youth violence in Baltimore, Maryland gun laws, police 'do not call' list

"I don't like to call it tough on crime, I like to call it smart on crime. The tool I've been given as the state's attorney, as prosecutors, when folks do very bad actions in our community is jail," the state's attorney said. "But we also recognize not everybody needs to go to jail. Dealing with low-level offenses, we're not trying to incarcerate our way with them but hold people accountable. We're looking at citations. We're looking at how do we get those wrap-around services for individuals."

Ivan Bates, Balt.City State's Atty, on his criminal justice priorities

He has been a vocal advocate for a bill under consideration in the General Assembly that would lengthen sentences for those over the age of 21 who are convicted of carrying a gun without a permit. That position has put him at odds with guns rights advocates on the right, and criminal justice reform advocates on the left.

Movie Review: I Got a Monster

One thing Bates makes clear is how difficult it is to go up against a cop in court. The entire system is built to believe cops and distrust the people they’ve arrested. Jenkins’ gig was particularly insidious. He stole from people—some criminals, many not—planted drugs and money on them, and then arrested them. Once they were in the system, he and his merry band of badged marauders had the upper hand. Indeed, at one point, Bates has body cam footage of Jenkins breaking into a victim’s home and it’s not enough to sway a judge.