In a significant shift, the Baltimore citation docket will be held just once a month starting February 2025, reflecting a notable decline in the number of citations issued by law enforcement. This change comes as part of State’s Attorney Ivan Bates’ initiative to address low-level, nonviolent crimes, which he emphasized upon taking office in 2023.
Currently, the citation docket convenes three times a month at different locations: the Eastside District Court, the John R. Hargrove Sr. District Court Building, and the Edward F. Borgerding Court Building. However, beginning next year, it will only take place on the third Wednesday of each month at the Borgerding Court Building, chosen for its superior access to public transportation.
James Bentley, a spokesperson for the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office, noted that the Baltimore Police are the main source of citations for this docket, but their operations are beyond the control of the prosecutors. He acknowledged that the decision to reduce the frequency of the docket was based on the low volume of citations being issued.
Data from the state’s attorney’s office indicates that from July 2023 to November 2024, only 721 citations were filed, averaging less than two per day. Notably, the Baltimore Police contributed 146 citations during this time, while the Comptroller of Maryland’s Field Enforcement Bureau issued the most at 148.
Since taking office, Bates has aimed to revive the prosecution of low-level offenses, reversing a previous policy that restricted such prosecutions. He introduced the citation docket to hold individuals accountable while providing access to social services, including community service options for eligible participants.
Despite these efforts, the low number of citations has led to concerns about the future viability of the docket. Bates has indicated that the courts may eventually need to reconsider the necessity of maintaining a dedicated docket if cases continue to dwindle.
On a recent court day, attendance at the citation docket was sparse, with many defendants failing to appear. The court proceedings also included various minor traffic cases, further highlighting the limited scope of the citation docket.
Reported by HarborBeat based on thebanner.com (source).
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