Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates releases city’s ‘first-ever strategic plan’ for prosecution | GUEST COMMENTARY
When I campaigned for the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, I made three major promises to the residents of this city: to focus on illegal firearm possession that plagues our communities; to address quality of life offenses that infringe daily upon the residents’ enjoyment of their neighborhoods; and to rebuild the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, restoring it to its place of prominence, not only in Maryland but across our country.
That last promise was particularly significant to me because this office is where I began my legal career, where I cut my teeth and honed my skills as an attorney. Now, leading the office, I am proud to share a key milestone in fulfilling that promise: Later today, I am unveiling what I believe is the first-ever strategic plan for the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City. This plan could not have been possible without the invaluable support and trust of the people of Baltimore.
Our strategic plan serves as a roadmap for the future and reflects our shared values, aspirations and dedication to serving this city. It is built on the foundation of transparency and accountability, reflecting our commitment to becoming a best-in-class prosecutor’s office that incorporates cutting-edge technology, upholds the highest ethical standards, and ensures every decision is transparent, consistent and just. This strategy is not just my commitment but also the office’s unwavering commitment to justice, integrity and rebuilding public trust. It is a product of collaboration, developed with input from staff at all levels throughout our office, and it is a testament to our collective commitment to reimagining justice in Baltimore.
The office is guided by five pillars: Fairness, Accountability, Collaboration, being Technology-Driven, and Setting the Standard. These are the F.A.C.T.S.
FAIRNESS and our steadfast commitment to it is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in equal treatment under the law, ensuring justice is administered impartially and without bias. This commitment to fairness is not just a promise but a cornerstone of our strategic plan. We recognize that historically, the judicial system has marginalized and mistreated minorities, especially Black people.
ACCOUNTABILITY is also paramount. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity, taking responsibility for our actions and decisions. Last year, I launched the Citation Docket to respond to residents’ calls for accountability for quality-of-life offenses that ironically hampered their quality of life here in our beloved city.
COLLABORATION is not just a strategy but essential to our success. We cannot tackle the complex challenges facing our communities alone. Collaboration lies at the heart of our strategic plan as we forge partnerships with law enforcement agencies, community organizations and other stakeholders to enhance public safety and support crime prevention efforts. By leveraging collective expertise and resources, we can achieve a more significant impact and create safer, more resilient communities for all. Embracing innovation means not just adapting to change but driving it.
TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN strategies will leverage cutting-edge tools to enhance our efficiency and effectiveness. I sincerely thank Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen for securing $775,000 in funding for modernization and enhancements in our office. By leveraging our partnership with our federal delegation, we can pursue our goal of being a technology-driven agency.
SETTING THE STANDARD for excellence and continuously striving to be leaders in our field, along with setting the benchmark for professionalism, integrity and legal advocacy, will help us evolve. Our strategic plan outlines clear objectives, strategies and initiatives to guide our work in critical areas such as case management, community engagement, professional development and more. Our work is only possible with collaboration from the community, and one of our initiatives will establish a community advisory board to ensure that our decisions are informed by the needs and perspectives of the community we serve.
Supporting our commitment to becoming the barometer for modern prosecutions, we are implementing a comprehensive training program for our staff to enhance their skills and knowledge in the pursuit of justice. I appreciate Gov. Wes Moore’s understanding of our goal to set the standard as the largest prosecutorial office in the state. In collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, our office received $1.7 million to help establish a more innovative process by using trained personnel to assist with evidence review.
As we embark on this journey together, I am filled with hope and optimism for the future of justice in Baltimore. Our strategic plan is not just a document but a commitment to action. We have set a timeline for implementing each initiative and are already making progress. Together, we will continue to build a more equitable, transparent, and responsive justice system that reflects our diverse community’s values and aspirations.
To read the complete plan, visit stattorney.org/policy/strategic-plan.
Ivan J. Bates (SA@stattorney.org) is state’s attorney for Baltimore City.