STRATEGIES

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JUVENILE CRIME: REHABILITATION PLUS ACCOUNTABILITY--NOT INSTEAD OF IT.

Juvenile offenders must be held accountable for the crimes they commit.  For those legal guardians who stand by, thereby enabling juvenile offenders to commit crimes, they also must be held accountable.  Lauren understands that policy and prosecutorial considerations are complex.   In juvenile crime discussions nowadays, public safety is mentioned in passing without any meaningful, demonstrated consideration.  This must change.  Lauren will work with all stakeholders to prioritize public safety first.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEX CRIMES: PROSECUTING THE CRIME, NOT THE VICTIM

 For too long, the entrenched incumbent has failed to prioritize safety and equal justice, with media reports of stark racial disparities, mishandled sexual assault cases, and accusations of weaponizing the criminal justice system highlighting the urgent need for reform:

"Baltimore County prosecutors have been dogged for years by reports they mishandle sexual assault complaints."

"The Baltimore County State's Attorney sent police to rape victim's home to threaten her resulting in a $100,000 settlement in civil rights case. Shows need for reform."

"Baltimore County police searched Black drivers 73% of the time...Baltimore County’s disparity [in issuing tickets to Black drivers] is the starkest by far [in Maryland]." 

First, we must prosecute crimes and not victims.  Second, we must eliminate the current can-we-win evaluation for charging cases.  Cases should be charged if there are facts and evidence to enable us to prove the case at trial.  Together, we will bring an end to the era of weaponizing of the criminal justice system against people of color and women. 

PROBLEM SOLVING: QUALITY OF LIFE CRIMES

Crime negatively impacts everyone's quality of life.  Strategic prosecution is key because the penalties for quality of life crimes are lower.  Lauren's years of experience in fashioning sentencing recommendations takes into account restitution, rehabilitation and punishment - this drives down recidivism.  Lauren understands that financial distress, trauma, and drug addiction are primary drivers of lower-level crimes.  Lauren will work to advocate for programming and policies that will help mitigate these crime-drivers and lower recidivism.

POST-TRIAL: GETTING STRATEGIC IN HOLDING VIOLENT REPEAT OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE

Lauren hears and understands the community’s frustration when violent probationers commit new crimes in the community.  As she has done in the City, Lauren will work to establish and build out a structured prosecution process to hold violent probationers accountable when they commit new crimes.  Lauren also understands that criminals do not abide by jurisdictional lines.   As she has done in the City, Lauren will continue to work across jurisdictions to ensure violent offenders are held accountable.

COLLABORATION

Lauren is a proven collaborator.  Lauren has worked with prosecution offices in jurisdictions throughout Maryland and across the nation - regardless of political leanings.  Public safety is a bipartisan concern.  Lauren has worked extensively in collaboration on public safety matters with federal, state and local law enforcement partners,  community members, parole and probation partners, legislators, defense attorneys, innocence projects, and academia.  Lauren understands that it takes a village to keep communities safe and she will continue to work alongside all stakeholders to achieve that end.

GETTING IT RIGHT

Lauren puts the community and victims first.  Leaving a person in prison for a crime they did not commit leaves a criminal out on the street, the community less safe, and victims without justice.  Any true prosecutor works everyday with the goal in mind to make sure justice is done through fairness.  If at any point in the criminal justice process a prosecutor learns that the wrong person has been charged or convicted, a prosecutor is obligated to fix it.  Prosecutors across courtrooms do this everyday when charges are dropped before trial.  

Lauren understands the complexity in those rare  instances in which a person has been convicted of a crime not committed.  Lauren does not shy away from understanding that it is her duty as a prosecutor to fix it when it happens.   Lauren created and built the Conviction Integrity Program in the City.  This program is designed to handle reviews of post-trial claims of wrongful conviction.  With meticulous thoroughness, Lauren has led the investigations, fought for - and exonerated - 14 men convicted of murders they did not commit.

ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

High morale is key inside any well run, successful administration or organization.   Lauren knows firsthand that prosecutors handle high case loads, often involving horrific crimes, while making life altering decisions - every day.   There is a growing understanding that this often results in vicarious trauma which contributes to low morale and attrition.  Low morale and attrition can result in lower prosecutorial  effectiveness in handling cases thereby jeopardizing public safety.  From the first day on the job, Lauren will put her proven administrative skills to use in initiating the development of wellness programming.   As she has successfully done as a seasoned leader and supervisor in the City, Lauren will work to ensure all staff are treated with dignity and respect, which includes fighting to ensure fair salaries for all staff.

MENTORING AND TRAINING

Lauren understands that the mentoring and training of prosecution staff is critical for agency stability 

- which leads to quality preparation of cases yielding better results in court.  A prominent voice both statewide and nationwide, Lauren has spent years presenting to and training prosecutors and support staff.  Lauren has the proven experience in development and execution of training protocols that she will put to use.