Witnesses bring emotional testimony for, against Second Look Act
Deborah Haskins' son, Joseph, was shot and killed in Baltimore City in 2013. A year later, her nephew, Rueben, was killed in Baltimore County.
But Haskins said she believes in second chances for everyone, which is one reason why she was in Annapolis on Thursday to testify in support of the Maryland Second Look Act. Senate Bill 291 would allow someone in prison to petition courts for a sentence reduction.
'Not all victims are the same. We are not monoliths,' Haskins, a licensed therapist, told the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. 'I decided that, for me, not to pass on generational trauma. I have to heal. Part of my healing includes forgiveness, and forgiveness is not an overnight process.'
But for Dawn Collins, the bill would 'undermine the small justice' she won with the conviction of her son's killer.
Collins gave tearful testimony as her husband, Richard Collins Jr., stood next to her and slowly turned 360 degrees to show committee members and the hearing audience a large, framed picture of their son, Richard W. Collins III. He was visiting a friend at the University of Maryland, College Park, when he was fatally stabbed in a racially motivated hate crime in May 2017, just days before he was set to graduate from Bowie State University.
'I am urging all lawmakers to oppose SB 291, and the no-limits approach to how it would benefit mass murderers, serial rapists, child sex offenders and those who have committed hate crimes, like the one who took my beloved son,' Dawn Collins said. 'The bill would undermine the small justice that was given in the case of my son's murder. I need to be able to continue to know that my son mattered.'
Medical and geriatric parole bill back before Senate panel
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Charles Sydnor III (D-Baltimore County), would allow a person who has served at least 20 years of a prison sentence to petition the court for a sentence reduction. If denied, they could petition again after three years. An inmate could not file more than three petitions.
A written decision would have to include the inmate's age at the time of the offense, whether they had participated in any education or vocational programs and 'whether the individual has demonstrated maturity, rehabilitation and fitness to reenter society sufficient to justify a sentence reduction.'
A victim or victim's representative would be able to attend a court hearing on the petition, or submit a written statement.
'Victims will have full agency and autonomy on whether or not they want to participate in this process. For some it is a part of their healing process,' Sydnor said. 'Not everyone just wants people to be thrown away and forgotten about or feel revictimized. For some people, it is a part of that process.'
But Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger (D) called the bill 'The 14th Look Back Act,' since it would repeatedly force victims like Dawn Collins to come back to court and relive the tragedy of a loved one killed.
'There needs to be some finality. I need to be able to say to tell Mrs. Collins, 'It's over. You don't have to come to court anymore and tell your story,'' Shellenberger said.
Sydnor asked Shellenberger if there's 'a true finality' under the current criminal justice system.
'The answer is no,' Shellenberger said, 'But that doesn't mean we should add another [post-conviction remedy] every three years.'
Criminal justice advocates have said everyone deserves a second chance, especially those who've shown they are rehabilitated.
Anthony Muhammad talked about his second chance at life Thursday morning to the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland in Annapolis. Muhammad, who was arrested in 1993 at age 15 on two homicide charges, was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years.
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After serving 29 years, 7 months and 29 days, Muhammad was released from prison in September 2022. Today, he's employed with the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland and is a youth mentor with an organization known as Baltimore Brothers.
'I am just one of many of long-term returning citizens, people who have served two, three and four decades of incarceration here in the state of Maryland that are now doing amazing and wonderful things,' he said at the caucus meeting. 'I want to thank this caucus for making this piece of legislation a priority.'
The measure, sponsored last year by former Sen. Jill P. Carter, passed the Senate then but stalled in the House.
Del. Cheryl Pasteur (D-Baltimore County), who presented the bill last year, is sponsoring the House version this year. It has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, but a hearing date has not been set.
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