Sarah On the Issues

For two decades, the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office has operated under the same leadership, while the crimes facing our community have changed significantly. As technology and communication have advanced, so must our approach to crime prevention. To protect our community effectively, we need to harness the power of data and strategic prosecution.

Collecting and Sharing Data

My administration will ensure we collect data on our office’s approach to criminal activity in the county including gun trafficking, human trafficking, property crimes and auto thefts to hone our resources to prevent these crimes before they happen. With this data, we can also train our prosecutors to specifically tackle the most pressing challenges facing our county. We will implement vertical prosecution for the most complex cases, where a dedicated prosecutor follows the case from investigation through trial and ensure that we can bring the strongest case to Court to secure a conviction. 

Also as technology changes, our approach to crime needs to change as well. Our Office will partner with regional and county partners to comprehensively address regional trends in crime and ensure our prosecutors and those in neighboring jurisdictions work together to make us all safer.

Diversion Programs

Diversion programs are critical to ensuring that non-violent offenders receive the resources they need—whether it’s mental health care, addiction treatment, or other services—so our prosecutors can focus on the violent, repeat offenders who threaten our community.

Baltimore County lags behind in providing robust diversion options. Our plan would include a Diversion Coordinator who would screen cases before the prosecutor to see if the case can be best addressed outside the courtroom. This will allow our prosecutors to focus on the most serious offenders and reduce recidivism by connecting people with resources to prevent future crime. Our office will work with community leaders, law enforcement, and state and federal agencies to establish programs that divert non-violent offenders from prison and into supportive care. It’s time to prioritize public safety by using our resources more effectively.

The State’s Attorney’s Office must take sexual assault and domestic violence seriously and be a leader in addressing these crimes with modern rather than outdated approaches. The Office needs to be a strong partner for organizations supporting victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and lead efforts to preserve evidence and hold offendors accountable.

Under my leadership, we will not only prosecute these cases with vigor but also prevent future assaults through education in schools and community groups. We will track and report the progress of each case—ensuring victims are treated with dignity and given the services they need to heal.

Baltimore County has fallen behind statewide standards in how it handles sexual assault cases and treats victims. It’s time to end the outdated, harmful practices that re-victimize those who come forward. Every survivor deserves to be treated with dignity and respect by their State’s Attorney’s Office. Under my leadership, we will stand up for all victims, ensuring they have control over their legal journey and the support they need.

Juvenile justice requires a system that offers rehabilitation while providing accountability. We plan to partner with social workers and community organizations to give our youth the support they need before they commit crimes. By working closely with law enforcement, we’ll make sure that the right resources reach those who need them most, keeping our community safer while giving young people a second chance at success.

Currently, the State’s Attorney’s Office does not publish data related to juvenile offenses. Under our leadership that would change. While individual juvenile cases are kept confidential, we can and must learn about trends in juvenile crime and prosecutions to help prevent future crime. If we knew how many cases the State’s Attorney’s Office prosecuted related to auto-thefts and property crimes, we could also trace the results and what solutions were most effective. Serving the public means being accountable to the public, and failing to do so makes Baltimore County less safe.

Juvenile justice also requires a Juvenile Division with the specialization required to make important decisions about accountability. Often, juvenile justice is seen as a training ground for new prosecutors to build their experience. That isn’t right – we need prosecutors who are seriously committed to preventing and prosecuting juvenile crime serving in our county. Without this, we are missing an opportunity to treat these cases with the attention they deserve. Understanding the important differences in juvenile crimes including the resources available to juveniles ensures a lack of recidivism and a safer community. Under our leadership, reforming the approach to juvenile justice in Baltimore County to prevent crimes will be a priority.

Prioritizing Safety in Our Schools

One of the most tragic changes over the past generation in education is the fear of violence in schools. Under the leadership of a mother of school-aged children, our office would be actively engaged in working hard to prevent harm to students. We will not be a passive force in preventing violence in schools and will partner with local schools, law enforcement and community partners to ensure students receive education about the criminal justice process and resources for. Ensuring students, parents, and educators are engaged with the State’s Attorney’s Office as partners will prevent violence and make our children safer.

School should be a place for learning, sports and growth. Now more than ever, online bullying and harassment continues to haunt our young students. Our office will work with community partners to ensure our students are given resources to address bullying and harassment. Most of these situations won’t need to see the criminal justice system–but our Office will advocate to ensure that our laws can address the most serious cases to protect our children.

Supporting Victims with Compassion and Care

No one should have to face the trauma of crime alone. Baltimore County must develop a robust Victim/Witness Services Program to ensure that every victim is connected with the services they need.

Our county should be a leader in ensuring that victims are protected. Our office will increase the number of dedicated victim advocates who guide survivors through the complex and often overwhelming trial process and engage community partners to aid victim advocacy throughout the charging, trial and post-conviction process. Our Office will work to ensure that our criminal justice system doesn’t just seek convictions—it prioritizes helping victims heal.

Protecting the Community, In the Community

The State’s Attorney’s Office cannot operate in isolation. True justice requires building strong relationships within our communities. Waiting until tragedy strikes to engage with residents is too late.

My office will expand its community outreach efforts, working directly with community leaders, schools, and organizations to tailor our approach to each neighborhood’s unique needs.

Baltimore County is diverse, and the State’s Attorney’s Office must reflect that diversity in order to serve effectively.

Public- Private Partnerships

Our State’s Attorney’s Office would prioritize building private partnerships for crime prevention in Baltimore County. Under the leadership of a former member of the Counterterrorism Bureau at the New York City Police Department, our Office would implement policies that allow private and public partners to assist in addressing trends in crime by working together to collect and distribute information to the public. Right now the States Attorney’s Office doesn’t engage in significant public outreach to prevent crime or coordinate information between agencies working toward public safety goals. We would change that to help build a network that works together to keep our County at the forefront of public safety efforts.