Coverage of criminal justice in Maryland focuses on the court system, sentencing guidelines, prison operations, bail practices and prosecution. This state-level reporting includes updates on policy shifts and the administration of the justice system.
A Maryland appellate panel ruled that a 2016 domestic second-degree assault conviction must wait 15 years before it can be expunged.
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October 26, 2026
Maryland Lacks Centralized Oversight of Legal SpendingA new audit reveals the state lacks a unified record for $62.6 million in taxpayer spending on outside counsel.
October 22, 2026
Maryland Pro Bono Legal Participation DeclinesThe state reports that attorney volunteer rates have dropped steadily since 2005 as civil legal aid demand remains high.
October 21, 2026
Family Files Lawsuit Over Death in Foster CareThe mother of a foster child who died in a Baltimore hotel is suing the state and Marriott International for wrongful death.
October 21, 2026
Maryland Public Defender Office Faces Chronic Staffing GapThe state's primary legal defense agency currently operates with 627 attorneys against a total need of over 1,000.
October 21, 2026
Maryland Audit Finds Issues With Legal ContractsThe Office of Legislative Audits uncovered deficiencies in how the Attorney General tracks outside legal spending.
October 6, 2026
Maryland Parole Commission Denied Jerry Beatty ParoleThe state commission rejected parole for the man convicted in the 1982 murder of 22-year-old Stephanie Roper.
October 6, 2026
Maryland Supreme Court Heard Judge Removal ArgumentsThe state court reviewed the potential removal of Chief Judge Vickie Gipson from the Anne Arundel County Orphans Court.
October 3, 2026
Maryland Enacted Major Criminal Justice ReformsNew laws affecting juvenile court, police conduct, and foster care placements went into effect across the state.
September 29, 2026
Maryland Will Implement Youth Charging Reform Act in OctoberA new law starting October 1, 2026, shifts certain cases involving 16 and 17-year-olds from adult to juvenile court.
September 29, 2026
Maryland Attorney General Paid Donating Law FirmsThe state paid $1.3 million to two firms that contributed to Attorney General Anthony Brown's campaign.
Regular subjects here include legislative reforms, the status of correctional facilities, trial developments and shifts in charging policies. Reporting spans from the capital to the rural counties where different jurisdictions manage their own case dockets. Sentencing guidelines and the use of pretrial detention are common points of focus within the state's judicial landscape. Changes to how the state processes cases often originate in state law but encounter practical differences in how each county manages its volume.
