Baltimore council hearing: arrests rise but prosecutors say cases lack evidence to win convictions
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Summary
At a Baltimore City Council Public Safety hearing, law enforcement and service providers described increased training and arrests but said prosecutors receive cases lacking forensic interviews and digital evidence; providers warned of limited youth shelter and long-term housing.
Baltimore City Council's Public Safety committee convened an informational hearing on human trafficking where law enforcement leaders, prosecutors and service providers described progress in identification and training but a persistent gap between arrests and successful prosecutions.
Assistant State's Attorney Kira Gilbert told the committee she has "not received any cases in the past year" she could prosecute successfully without more detailed forensic interviews and corroborating evidence. "I can't prosecute a case if I'm not given a case to prosecute," she said, and urged stronger investigative follow-up and access to digital and financial records such as Cash App and OnlyFans records.
Baltimore Police Department officials described a recent increase in enforcement under a newly realigned unit and offered statistics for 2025: Major Danita Canton reported 20 arrests tied to child sexual exploitation–related charges, seven arrests for solicitation of a minor and additional arrests for prostitution-related offenses. Colonel Jack Herzog, chief of detectives, said the department will host specialized two-day human trafficking training and social media investigations classes in the coming months to improve evidence collection and investigative technique.
But the city's top detectives and the prosecutor acknowledged operational gaps. Gilbert said other jurisdictions succeed in part because they house analysts and digital-forensics staff within prosecutors' units; she said she lacks a comparable in-house analyst. BPD officials said the human trafficking unit currently comprises four detectives, one sergeant and one lieutenant following a 2024 realignment and pledged to close the communication gap with prosecutors and return with a joint strategy.
Council members pressed both sides for specific deliverables. Several members suggested a joint, off-line meeting to align on forensic interview practices and evidence requests; Gilbert said she will consider asking the state's attorney for an analyst position in budget discussions. Tom Sacca of the mayor's office, who co-founded the Baltimore Human Trafficking Collaborative, said the city has invested millions in service partners and training but agreed with council members that improved interagency case-building is a priority.
The hearing concluded with council leaders asking agencies to meet and deliver a plan to close the gap between arrests and prosecutions.
The committee recessed at the end of the hearing; no formal motions or votes were taken.