Pubdate: Sun, 10 Nov 2013
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2013 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Author: Ian Duncan

REPORT FINDS RACIAL GAP IN MARIJUANA ARRESTS IN MD.

The gap between rates for black and white people arrested on 
marijuana possession charges widened significantly in the past 
decade, according to Maryland data released by the American Civil 
Liberties Union.

Meredith Curtis, a spokeswoman for the organization, said that the 
trend is particularly troubling at a time when public opinion is 
shifting toward legalizing the drug. In Maryland, 51 percent of 
respondents favored legalization and 40 opposed it, according to a 
Goucher College poll published Friday.

Baltimore State's Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein and other prosecutors 
have been stepping up programs that let people facing minor drug 
charges avoid a conviction. And Russell A. Neverdon Sr., who plans to 
challenge Bernstein in next year's Democratic primary, has said he 
would be open to reconsidering the state's drug laws.

Late last month, a federal judge agreed to impose lighter-than-usual 
sentences on defendants in a major marijuana case, saying that U.S. 
authorities appear to view the drug less seriously now than they did 
when sentencing rules were written.

But between 2001 and 2010, the overall number of marijuana possession 
arrests in Maryland grew, and the number of black people charged grew 
much faster, the ACLU said in a report published last week. The 
organization said the trend - repeated in counties across Maryland - 
suggests police are biased in the way they enforce drug laws.

The biggest racial disparity was in Garrett County, where 
African-Americans are almost 6.5 times more likely to be arrested 
than white people. Baltimore City had the next-highest gap: about 5.5 times.

Baltimore police have said that they do not target people to arrest 
based on their race. The Garrett County sheriff 's office did not 
respond to a request for comment.

"It seems to be a structural problem, where in every single county 
you have this racial disparity," said ACLU Maryland spokeswoman Meredith Curtis.
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