(Baltimore, MD) – The Baltimore Police Monitoring Team has issued for public comment the draft of a first-year monitoring plan 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 States Department of Justice (DOJ) last year. The draft plan can be found at www.bpdmonitor.com/first-year-monitoring-plan.
The public comment period runs from January 8 through January 29. Comments can be submitted by completing a survey form online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BPDMTPlanSurvey. The draft plan 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 monitoring plan as warranted, and submit a final proposed monitoring plan to the Court for review and approval on February 5.
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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.