Signed by Governor Wes Moore

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the state attorney general's office to prosecute law enforcement officers involved in incidents resulting in death.

Highlights:

• Requires a law enforcement agency to notify the IID Division within the office of the Attorney General of any police involved deaths involving an individual as soon as police become aware of the incident (Sec. 1). 

• Requires a law enforcement agency to cooperate with and not impede the IID when undergoing an investigation (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the IID must investigate all police-involved incidents that result in the death of an individual (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the state’s attorney shall refer to outside individuals the investigation into a police involved death (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the IID may decline to investigate certain incidents (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the IID can and will investigate any other crime related to police misconduct that occurred during an investigation (Sec. 1). 

•  Specifies that on January 31st of each year the division shall submit a report to the governor regarding the number of investigations ongoing and the number of prosecutions completed (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the attorney general has th4 exclusive authority to prosecute offenses related to the police-involved deaths of individuals. (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that a state’s attorney may refer incidents to the attorney general for prosecution (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that a state’s attorney may prosecute a criminal offense described in subsection of this section only if the attorney general requests a state attorney accomplish this (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the state attorney general's office to prosecute law enforcement officers involved in incidents resulting in death.

Highlights:

• Requires a law enforcement agency to notify the IID Division within the office of the Attorney General of any police involved deaths involving an individual as soon as police become aware of the incident (Sec. 1). 

• Requires a law enforcement agency to cooperate with and not impede the IID when undergoing an investigation (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the IID must investigate all police-involved incidents that result in the death of an individual (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the state’s attorney shall refer to outside individuals the investigation into a police involved death (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the IID may decline to investigate certain incidents (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the IID can and will investigate any other crime related to police misconduct that occurred during an investigation (Sec. 1). 

•  Specifies that on January 31st of each year the division shall submit a report to the governor regarding the number of investigations ongoing and the number of prosecutions completed (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the attorney general has th4 exclusive authority to prosecute offenses related to the police-involved deaths of individuals. (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that a state’s attorney may refer incidents to the attorney general for prosecution (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that a state’s attorney may prosecute a criminal offense described in subsection of this section only if the attorney general requests a state attorney accomplish this (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text