Eastern District PCRC Meeting:

May 18th, 2016

Call to Order: 1935

Attendance: 32, 1 Officer

Guest Speaker: Judge Vitale

-Eastern District Residence

-Opportunity to speak with everyone

-County Councilman 11 years

-Delegate for years for District 30

-Appointed Judge, have to reelect judges every so often

-12 Members on the Circuit Court Bench

-Very Active Bench doing lots of community

-Low crime in comparison to other Counties

-Good team leading AACO, County Executive and State’s Attorney

-They do not put you in a rotation, every day is a different day and different type of court, it produces better bench judges

-Her 26 year law career has prepared her to be a judge, because the diversity of work in the past, it helps tackle the cases of the day.

-Church Circle Circuit, Jury Trials, Domestic Trial, felony, violent , contract law, domestic, but not traffic court or misdemeanor violations.

-Chambers –discovery, signing paperwork, a week off the bench, but the emergency judge, or the judge panel.

-State of Maryland – opt out of Jury Duty if over 70

-Courts are open to the public, every Tuesday

Questions –

-Any changes to jury duty selection proposed? No, it’s random computer selection, voter registration and MVA licenses

-Lists are private and secure

-Drug Court – Is an opportunity for possession (1st time offender) Screened – Eligible for Treatment and if they want to do. Drug Court is 18-24 months, constantly reviewed and followed by Court

  • 70% don’t repeat, 30% do repeat, If successful, the crime is wiped from your record
  • True Addicts have an opportunity to change

-Hardest Part is Violation of Probation – 10 years, suspend all but 18 months,

  • Tool – Department of Correction (more than 18 months)
  • A 4 year sentence typical is 1 year, credits by State Assembly has laws for
  • Detention Center does not have any credit, so you can keep someone locked up longer.

-Much harsher line on drugs, this group of judges is locking people up longer and longer and repeat offenders are the target to enforce sentencing

-Justice Reinvestment Act – just passed the legislation

-Your safety on the bench? For the most it hasn’t been an issue, only once in 1.5 years

-Judicial Nomination Commission – very difficult process, very thoroughly background, process, meet with 8 specialty bar commission. 13 People Commission get to ask anything. Placed on a short list and on to the Governor and staff and then appointed by Governor.

-Guadenzia – New Facility Treatment at Crownsville

-Pascal Crisis Line, through Health Department/ Police Department

-$32,000 Annual Cost of keeping an inmate in AACO

-Reasonable Doubt – hardest thing to wrestle with internally

-Hardest – signing a piece of paper that changes lives

-PSI Reports –

Monday Criminal Arraingment, Tuesday/ Thursday is Major Trial, Wednesday, District Court Appeals, Friday’s Continuation Starts 9AM –

Most Cases 30-35 to get to 12

Murder 100 to get to 12

Severna Park – Sandra Howe, New Magistrate

Brian Eisick – District Dect. 10

Last Meeting – Homicide in GB, Closed

Right Now – Theft from Auto’s, Heroin

300 cases of unlocked theft from Auto

Burglary – has been quiet, houses are opened

Restaurant Robberies (take overs)

Call the police, to help tracking, partial tags help

Treasury Report $585.58 Total Income Jan 1 -

$1,049.23 Checking Account – Paid some bills,

Shred Rama $719 Donations - $600 County Council PCRC, Executive Board

50th Anniversary $2,400, so $600 per District

Secretary

Chief’s Meeting – CAC – Business Council

Topics – Town Hall Meetings, Results of the Meeting were very good, Heroin Treatment, once a month injection, $1,200 cost – 85% success rate VIVITROL is the drug

How the police department obtains additional funds above Budgeting

Police Department – Radio Police Car for Kids Event

Drawing - $16.00 Winnings - $16.00

June 15th

2115 Adjournment