Community Compensation Act for Quality of Life Offenses

Everyone knows that open air drug markets and street level prostitution lead to increased violence and destruction of communities. Typically, communities feel helpless in combating these forces. Even constant vigils often will not change the course of events, so long as there is a market for the services being sold. And, we all know that the large majority of the customers are not from the community. In fact, most of them do not even live in the City.

The Law Center is supporting the Community Compensation Act which would change this dynamic. It would enable community associations to sue, for damages, the customers of the open air drug markets and the customers of the prostitutes. If enacted, it will allow communities to go after the consumption side of the market. Without customers, there is no market. The minimum damages are set at $5,000. This is an amount which will help the community to remedy the damage done by the illegal activities.

If enacted, the law would operate much as the Drug Nuisance Abatement law which addresses drug dealing at specific properties. That law has been extremely successful and popular with community associations. The Law Center has successfully opened over 700 drug nuisance cases.

In a typical case, there is a raid by the Police. Evidence of drug activity is found. This police evidence is then used by the community association to bring a civil action against the owner and tenants of the property.

The Community Compensation Act would enable community associations to address those situations which occur on the street - the drive-through drug markets and the street level prostitutes. As with the Drug Nuisance cases, it would require coordination between the Police and the community.

The bill is being sponsored by Sen. Clarence Mitchell, IV and Del. Maggie McIntosh, both of whom are committed to work hard to get it passed by the upcoming General Assembly. If you would like more information or want to have your organization sign on as a supporter, contact:

Jim Kelly - Community Law Center

Sen. Mitchell at 410-841-3612

Del. McIntosh at 410-467-9100

Working with the Maryland Dept of Housing and Community Development for Better Programs in Urban Neighborhoods

The Community Law Center has been working with the community of Boyd/Booth for over six years. In the beginning years, the overwhelming concern was the drug dealing and violence derived from it. The community, through the hard work of its residents, had a dramatic decrease in crime and was able to re-claim its' streets.

The community then looked to positive and proactive revitalization of the physical appearance of the community. Working with the Law Center, Bon Secours Foundation, the Dept of Planning, and the Neighborhood Design Center, they developed a plan for re-development of the neighborhood.

The housing in Boyd/Booth is typical Baltimore - small row houses and high density. The plan calls for combining some houses, demolishing the worst houses and using the lots as large side yards for the remaining properties. The research indicated that there was a market for such housing.

However, Maryland financing programs did not allow for commingling of construction and demolition financing. After meeting with the Baltimore Dept of Housing and Community Development, it was agreed that the Law Center would draft the necessary changes to the state legislation so that the Boyd Booth plan could go forward. It is anticipated that the necessary changes will be made by the General Assembly.

Tracking the Crooks

Since January, 1999, Kristine Dunkerton, Law Center Staff Attorney for Southwest Baltimore, has been tracking in a database and mapping drug arrests within southwest and the place of residence of the arrested person. This information has proven useful to:

• Write Community Impact Statements for presentation at the sentencing of persons who have a chronic presence in the drug trade of the community. Community Impact Statements are submitted by the State's Attorney on behalf of the community with the objective of obtaining significant sentences or conditions of probation, such as orders to stay away from the community or a particular corner. This is one way of removing drug dealers from their markets.
• File possible Padlock or Drug Nuisance Abatement actions against properties and owners of properties consistently renting to drug dealers.
• Create Community Safety Plans by looking at areas with high criminal activity and installing lights, fences or gates, video cameras, etc.
  
  

This project would not be possible without the effort and help of Officer Jarrell, of the Baltimore City Police Department. 

    Unable to open links e-mail to mail@communitylaw.org

To add your neighborhood to our links page click here

    The Community Law Center Website is under construction please watch for updates

Last Updated: September 25, 2006 © 2006 Community Law Center, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland