Mayor Brandon Scott’s administration has taken a position against Civilian Oversight due to their opposition to HB 991 /SB 441.
SB 441 would give the existing Civilian Review Board (CRB) the powers and responsibilities of the Police Accountability Boards that each jurisdiction are required to establish due to the passage of the Police Accountability Act of 2021.
SB 441 would also give the CRB greater levels of independence to actually hold law enforcement accountable, along with the resources necessary to carry this out.
The Scott Administration has articulated a position that would create a Police Accountability Board, which would be duplicative of the existing CRB, with the intention of eventually dissolving the CRB.
While the CRB lacks the full powers that would constitute true community oversight, it does have limited investigatory power and the ability to formally weigh in on allegations of police misconduct.
If the administration decides to go along with their plan of eventually dissolving the CRB, these powers would lost, moving Baltimore in the opposite direction of community oversight.
Take Action Now
Email YOUR Baltimore City Senators and Delegates.
Tell them to
SUPPORT SB 441 / HB 991
We want to to KEEP the Baltimore Civilian Review Board and empower it with more resources to hold law enforcement accountable.
Example Email / Phone Script
Greetings Senator/Delegate
My name is John Doe and I am a registered voter and resident of your district.
I am urging you to support SB 441 / HB 991 because it is essential that we empower Baltimore's Civilian Review Board with the resources to be more effective. We do not need need to create a new entity. Baltimore already has a civilian review board to hold law enforcement accountable.
Thank you for your consideration.
- John
Baltimore City Legislators
District 40
Delegate Frank Conaway Jr.
District 40
Baltimore City
Democrat
410-841-3189
frank.conaway@house.state.md.us
