Despite being home to one of the state’s most visible open-air drug markets, only two drug-related citations have been issued this year in Baltimore’s Penn North neighborhood, according to new data from The Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office.
The figure comes as the city continues to grapple with a growing overdose crisis. Earlier this month, Penn North was the scene of two mass overdose incidents that sent more than 30 people to area hospitals. Investigators believe a dangerous mixture of narcotics caused the overdoses.
Patricia Deros is the Chief Eastside District Court attorney for the state’s attorney’s office. She said issuing citations — not arrests — can be a critical step in connecting drug users with treatment and services.
“No,” Deros said when asked if enough citations for drug-related matters are being issued. “The police departments do not issue them.”
Deros, who has served in the state’s attorney’s office for over 35 years, said community members and prosecutors alike are aware of the constant, visible drug activity in Penn North.
“If the community members can observe all of this activity going on, there isn’t a reason that a law enforcement officer doesn’t see the same thing and can’t approach and issue a citation to hold these people accountable,” she said.
Citations, Deros emphasized, are about accountability. The goal is to get people into treatment, not jail time.
“If we can offer these services, they won’t be back in the community offending, and the community will be able to become safer,” she said.
Robin Wherley, a prosecutor with Baltimore City Drug Treatment Court, echoed that sentiment.
“It’s showing that the system can actually prevent and treat addiction without necessarily condemning people to a criminal record and jail,” Wherley said.
Drug court operates similarly to citation court by offering treatment. They are different in their approach and assignment.
Deros said repeat offenders are rare in citation court.
“In the years that we’ve been doing the citation docket, I don’t see many repeat offenders,” she said. “Citations work.”
State’s Attorney Ivan Bates launched a new citation initiative in June 2023 to address quality-of-life offenses, also known as low-level offenses. This includes, but is not limited to, loitering, littering and trespassing.
The Baltimore Sun’s media partner, FOX45 News, has covered the topic extensively. Since 2023, few citations have been issued.
So far in 2025, only 226 citations have been issued citywide for low-level crimes and just 33 of those were drug-related, according to the state’s attorney’s office. Each citation includes the ZIP code of where it was issued.
In Penn North, just two drug-related citations have been documented. One was issued in January by the Baltimore Police Department. The Maryland Transit Administration issued the other on June 2.
Deros believes far more citations could — and should — be issued.
“I’m assuming in Penn North that they could probably issue 10 to 15 a day,” she said.
More than 12 agencies in Baltimore are authorized to issue citations. But the bulk of the responsibility still falls on local law enforcement.
“The open-air drug use — that is a crime — and should be addressed by the law enforcement community, but it’s not being addressed,” Deros said.
In a statement, Baltimore Police said, “BPD, along with the City of Baltimore, recognizes that addiction is a complex public health issue, not simply a matter of criminal behavior. We understand that we are not going to cite or arrest our way out of addiction.
“Our department continues to work collaboratively with our public health and community partners to connect individuals to the resources, treatment and support services they need. This approach aligns with the city’s broader harm reduction strategy and risk reduction efforts, and our commitment to improving both public safety and public health outcomes for our residents.”
For this story, Spotlight on Maryland also wanted to know if low-level arrests could help police dismantle drug distribution networks. Defense attorney Jeremy Eldridge said arrests themselves might not provide much value. However, gathering information from drug users could help pinpoint dangerous supply sources.
“What is of use is finding out, for instance, in the Penn North case, where are the drugs that are causing massive amounts of overdoses being sold?” Eldridge said. “The police can track that information much faster.”
The state’s attorney’s office said it will continue urging law enforcement to issue more citations and pursue strategies that prioritize treatment over incarceration.
Asked whether citation court could be the key to reversing Baltimore’s overdose crisis, Deros said it could be — if paired with accessible care.
“I think it can be. I think we need a lot more treatment on demand available,” she said.
In the coming days, Spotlight on Maryland will seek answers from city officials about how open-air drug markets, such as Penn North, continue to persist.
Spotlight on Maryland is a collaborative project by FOX45 News, WJLA in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun. Have a tip or story idea? Contact Tessa Bentulan at tbentulan@sbgtv.com.
from Baltimore Sun https://ift.tt/UeHKiX0
via IFTTT
