Statement from Governor Martin O'Malley on Maryland's First Gang Law Conviction

Statement

Governor Martin O'Malley issued this statement tonight following the conviction of Dajuan Marshall. Earlier today, Marshall was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and participating in a gang under the Maryland Gang Prosecution Act, signed into law in 2007 by Governor O'Malley:

"When we took office in 2007, we made a commitment to all Marylanders that we would do everything in our power to make Maryland neighborhoods safer. Today, a Baltimore jury reaffirmed that commitment with this conviction.

"Together, we've driven violent crime down to its lowest rate ever recorded in our State. I'm proud to have signed this legislation into law, giving yet another tool for Maryland prosecutors to put individuals who terrorize our neighborhoods behind bars where they belong."

Through the innovative use of public safety technology, unprecedented information sharing across borders, and strategic reform of long-troubled public safety state agencies, law enforcement personnel throughout Maryland have driven violent crime, property crime, and total crime to historic lows.

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