Baltimore will no longer prosecute drug possession, low-level crimes

Baltimore will no longer prosecute drug possession and other low-level offenses, Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced on Friday. The decision to stop prosecuting certain crimes last year was implemented as a way to keep people out of jail during the coronavirus pandemic. It resulted in a decrease in arrests and crime, so the city is making the decision permanent. “Today, America’s war on drug users is over in the city of Baltimore,” Mosby said in a statement. “We leave behind the era of tough-on-crime prosecution and zero tolerance policing and no longer default to the status quo to criminalize mostly people of color for addiction.” In the 12 months since she ordered scaled-back enforcement, violent crime is down 20% and property crime has declined 36%. Homicides inched down, though Baltimore still has one of the highest homicide rates among cities nationwide. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found sharp reductions in calls to police complaining about drugs and prostitution, Mosby said.