Friend ,

For the first time in 15 years there is a competitive race for State’s Attorney happening in Baltimore County. Incumbent State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger is being challenged by Maryland Democratic Party Secretary Robbie Leonard in what’s being called one of the most consequential primary races in our state during the upcoming 2022 election.

Join us October 27th at 6:30pm for a forum where we will hear from the candidates on their platforms and their vision for criminal justice reform and safety in Baltimore County.

Here’s why this race is so critical. Last summer the nation experienced a new level of awakening to the racial injustice that has been far too common in this country. The national uprising after the murder of George Floyd prompted renewed calls for serious reforms to public safety policy and a transformation of our criminal legal system. These calls for change were also heard here at home in Maryland as the Maryland General Assembly took up landmark police accountability legislation and changes to the overall criminal legal system. However, there is still much to be done to prevent what happened to George Floyd from happening again with others.

State’s Attorneys are absolutely key when it comes to police accountability and ending mass incarceration. Prosecutors have the power to go after police when they abuse their authority, however this is not the case in many places. Right here in Maryland, police have regularly gotten away with abusive and deadly behavior often without consequence.

Local State’s Attorneys also have the power to decide what to prioritize in terms of prosecution, which gives them a lot of influence in terms of determining who goes to jail and for what. In many places state prosecutors have decided to not try people for smaller offenses including things like minor drug possession. Changes like these allow elected State’s Attorney’s to help transform the criminal legal system from one that punishes the poor and vulnerable into one that promotes public safety and alternative solutions for people who are accused of breaking the law.

That’s why it’s absolutely critical for progressives to hear from the candidates and to get involved in races like these. The Baltimore County State’s Attorney race will have tremendous implications for the path our state takes in terms of ending mass incarceration, police brutality, and the war on Black and Brown communities. We need you to be in attendance on October 27th to hear from the candidates on what their vision is for the people of Baltimore County.