(Baltimore, MD) – The Baltimore Police Monitoring Team has issued for public comment a draft first-year budget, which estimates the time and expenses needed to accomplish the team’s work under the first-year monitoring plan. The first-year monitoring plan, a draft of which was issued for public comment on January 9, is intended to guide the initial efforts of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) to comply with the requirements of the Consent Decree BPD entered into with the United StatesDepartment of Justice (DOJ) last year. The draft budget and the draft monitoring plan can be found at www.bpdmonitor.com/first-year-monitoring-plan.
The public comment period on the draft budget runs from January 29 through February 9. The public comment period on the draft monitoring plan is correspondingly being extended through February 3.
Comments on the draft budget can be submitted by completing a survey form online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FirstYearBudget. The draft budget located at www.bpdmonitor.com/first-year-monitoring-plan contains instructions on how to submit comments electronically, in person, and by mail.
The Monitoring Team, BPD and DOJ will consider the comments received, incorporate the comments into the budget as warranted, and submit a final proposed budget to the Court for review and approval on February 13.
###
The Baltimore Police Monitoring Team oversees the implementation of the Consent Decree – a judicially-enforceable agreement – between the Baltimore City Police Department, the City of Baltimore and the United States. The Consent Decree requires BPD to adopt a number of specific reforms aimed at ensuring effective, safe, and constitutional policing. The Monitoring Team’s job is to help the Court gauge whether, consistent with the Consent Decree’s objectives, BPD is achieving meaningful reform by making tangible changes in its policies and practices for the benefit of Baltimoreans. The Monitoring Team also provides technical assistance to BPD as it seeks to implement the reforms required by the Consent Decree. The Monitoring Team includes specialists in policing and police reform, civil rights enforcement, psychology, social science, organizational change, data and technology, and community engagement.