We accomplished a great many things in Annapolis this session, designed to help keep our neighborhoods safe.

I supported Governor O’Malley’s budget, which added 155 correctional officers.  I personally introduced legislation supported by the Baltimore County Police Department, that afforded protections to civilian crime scene investigators working under the direction of a police force.

As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I saw testimony and helped shape virtually all of the “Crime and Punishment” legislation that came into the General Assembly.  

Our Committee, with my support, passed Jessica’s Law which eliminates parole eligibility for the most violent child sexual predators.  In addition, we added sexual crimes against children to a list of crimes known as “violent crimes” for the purpose of enhancing penalties.  

Our Committee passed the Governor’s Gang prevention bill, which will enable the State’s Attorney’s office to go after gang members who commit crimes as a pattern of gang activity.  This is an important tool in prosecutor’s efforts to control the increasing gang problem facing our state.

I was proud to co-sponsor legislation introduced by Harford County Republican Donna Stiffler which increased penalties for possession of child pornography.  I was proud to be one of just three votes in the House Judiciary Committee in favor of legislation introduced by my Baltimore County colleagues, Eric Bromwell and Johnny Olszewski which would have kept child sex offenders from living within a certain radius of schools.  I was proud to work with Harford County Republican Sue McComas on an effort to criminalize the neglect of chained dogs.  

From my Committee we passed bills to criminalize the sale of drug paraphanalia to minors, to study methods of reducing drunk driving, and to enable prosecution of human trafficking.

Those who know me can be certain that I am fighting hard to keep our neighborhoods and our families safe.