Lawmakers consider reconstituting task force to standardize prosecutors' data across Maryland

Senate Bill 343 would reconstitute the task force that studied transparency standards for Maryland's state's attorneys, extend its life and widen membership to build consistent data collection and public reporting across jurisdictions.

Senator (Senator Sidor) introduced the bill, saying the task force’s initial work was incomplete because some offices lacked case management systems and the group needed more time to set standards and funding strategies. Heather Warnken of the Center for Criminal Justice Reform said the work was only beginning and urged a favorable report, noting consistent, county-level prosecutorial data would support equity and resource decisions.

The bill would extend the task force, add seats (including for the Office of the Public Defender and victims’ organizations), and direct the group to study implementation, funding, and minimum reporting metrics. Proponents said the work is necessary because counties use different case-management systems and, in some instances, only court clerks’ data or paper files exist. Senator Sidor said the task force should also examine grants and technical assistance to help smaller offices build dashboards like those in Baltimore City, Montgomery County and Frederick County.

Maryland State’s Attorneys Association (MSAA) witnesses urged an unfavorable report. MSAA counsel Karon Watkins said all 24 offices now use case-management systems and recommended using the statewide dashboard under development at the Governor’s Office for Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services (GOCAP) rather than reconvening the task force. Deputy State’s Attorney Karen Piper Mitchell said offices must ensure data accuracy before feeding it into dashboards and described time-consuming cleanup needed in some counties’ systems.

Committee members pressed both sides on practical outcomes: what minimum metrics the General Assembly should expect, whether GOCAP’s dashboard already answers some questions, and how to fund smaller jurisdictions to achieve consistent reporting. Supporters said the task force would recommend a set of feasible, consistent data points and a path to fund implementation; opponents said those recommendations largely exist and urged the committee to withhold reconvening.

The committee did not take a final vote during the hearing; the exchange focused on whether reconstituting the task force would add necessary implementation work or duplicate existing efforts.