Penalties & Confinement
We urge the state to increase penalties for defacing and removal of “Mason-Dixon Line” markers. ’05
We favor adequate prison facilities so that inmates can serve their sentences. We recommend that inmates in minimum security penal complexes be required to work on highways, prison farms or other public projects to help defray the cost of their food and support and to pay restitution to their victims. We also favor emphasis on the rehabilitation of persons confined to penal institutions to afford them a better opportunity to assume a constructive role in society. ’06
We believe there should be harsher penalties for drivers who are convicted for driving while intoxicated or impaired due to drugs or alcohol. We urge mandatory testing for drug use of drivers suspected of driving while "impaired" but who pass the alcohol test. We further urge that the "implied consent" provision that applies to alcohol testing for all Maryland permit holders be extended to include testing for drug use. We believe that motor vehicle laws dealing with drunk drivers or drug-impaired drivers should be more strictly enforced. '97
We believe that the State of Maryland should enact legislation providing for a mandatory life sentence without parole, or a death sentence, for violent murder offenses and murder offenses occurring during the illegal transportation and/or distribution of controlled dangerous substances (drugs). ’05
We urge the Department of Corrections to return prisoners to their county of origin after the completion of their sentence before their release.
We support legislation that would prevent elected officials from holding office if convicted of a crime or of misconduct in office and from receiving pensions or benefits pertaining to the office that they held.’06
Judicial Process
We recommend that the defendants be brought to a speedy trial and if convicted, given a sentence sufficient to discourage further crimes. We support consistency in judicial sentencing for all.
We urge the Maryland Legislature to enact legislation that would change the insanity defense of "innocent by reason of insanity" to "guilty, but insane.” ’05
Investigation of Crimes
We urge local, county and state law enforcement agencies to communicate between jurisdictions and cooperate with each other when investigating thefts of personal property. '97
We urge all law enforcement agencies to assist farmers in identifying motorists who damage property so those motorists can be assessed for the damages.’06