Issue Position: Criminal Justice Reform

Issue Position

Mass incarceration destroys lives, families, and communities. It furthers racial injustice, creates astronomical costs to the state, and has not created greater safety. Lorig believes in policies that will enhance public safety and strengthen communities for all Marylanders by prioritizing prevention and treatment over lengthy incarceration. Maryland must end the school to prison pipeline, implement community-led policing strategies, eliminate the cash bail system, and create a regulated and taxed adult cannabis system. Sentencing reform should focus on shifting non-violent offenses to civil penalties, and prioritizing community supervision and treatment over lengthy incarceration whenever it is safe to do so. Policies must help previously incarcerated Marylanders reintegrate into society, and maximize the likelihood of their success through employment, education, and treatment. These approaches are both more humane and cost-effective than current policies. And most importantly, the funds saved through these reforms can be reinvested in treatment, prevention, and other social services.

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