crime Maryland and Baltimore Sue Glock Over Automatic Weapon Conversions 2025-02-15 Maryland and the city of Baltimore sued Glock, one of the country's largest gun sellers, seeking to force the company to take steps to prevent owners from modifying its products into automatic weapons resembling machine guns. The lawsuit is the first test of Maryland's Gun Industry Accountability Act adopted last year, and aims to reduce gun violence on the streets. Authorities said owners of Glock semiautomatic pistols can easily install 'auto sears,' also known as Glock switches, that make the weapons more lethal, capable of firing 1,200 rounds a minute. The complaint said sears cost as little as $20 when bought from third parties, and can be produced on 3D printers. The lawsuit seeks to stop sales of easily-converted Glocks in Maryland, and to recoup profits and restitution, among other remedies. crime Trans Prisoners Account for Disproportionate Share of Maryland Corrections Settlements 2025-02-15 Trans prisoners make up a fraction of the people incarcerated in Maryland's state-run correctional facilities, but accounted for more than a third of the state's civil lawsuit settlement payouts by the corrections department last year, according to a recent budget analysis. The analysis cited three settlements in 2024 that involved transgender prisoners and pretrial detainees, amounting to about $835,000 — roughly 38% of the total amount the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services paid out in settlements that year. There are about 115 prisoners and detainees in Maryland prisons and state-run Baltimore jails who identify as transgender, out of a total population of about 17,000 incarcerated people. Trans prisoners are known to face high rates of sexual and physical assault, often spending time in solitary confinement as a result of those threats. The advocacy group said it has met with corrections officials 10 times since testifying in last year's budget hearings, providing feedback on just one policy so far — the medical evaluations manual — and is waiting to provide feedback on 28 additional policies that the department identified as affecting trans people. crime First African American U.S. Attorney for Maryland Resigns Amid Challenges 2025-02-15 Erek L. Barron, the first African American to serve as the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, resigned from his position effective February 12, 2025. Appointed on October 7, 2021, Barron's tenure was marked by efforts to reduce violent crime, high-profile prosecutions, and initiatives to strengthen civil rights enforcement. However, his resignation follows reports of challenges within the office, including declining case filings and internal morale issues. Barron's legal career included roles as an assistant state's attorney in Prince George's County and Baltimore City, a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division, and a policy advisor to then-Senator Joe Biden on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Upon his appointment as U.S. Attorney, Barron prioritized tackling violent crime through initiatives such as Project Safe Neighborhoods, fostering collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement. His office also played a key role in reducing homicides in Maryland by 41% from 2021 to 2024. |
Baltimore, Maryland. 
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