Nearly 60 inmates have been released from Baltimore city jails and prisons in the past two weeks after getting new or expedited bail review hearings, the Maryland judiciary said Friday.
Those freed were identified by the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office as being low-risk offenders who would not post a public safety threat, according to the Maryland Judiciary Office of Public Affairs. The releases began on March 18 and have continued since.
Maryland judiciary Public Information Officer Nadine Maeser said the tally of 60 released is the latest and most accurate account as of Friday. The defendants released were committed to the Baltimore City Detention Center and were awaiting trial. Four individuals were released on Friday, Maeser said.
Maeser says the expedited hearings have been occurring daily in the district court. The Circuit Court for Baltimore City is also conducting similar hearings, Maeser said.
“Numerous individuals have been released through this process every day,” Maeser said. “The judge will make a decision based on the facts and circumstances of each case, taking into account the recommendation of each attorney and the current situation with the COVID-19 emergency.”
The Baltimore City State’s Attorneys Office has since recommended 157 people for release from Baltimore city jails, although a judge will make the final decision.
“Three different teams of prosecutors were doing this type of work for the past week,” Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby said in an email provided by her office to The Sun.
