Baltimore Sees Violent Crime Drop After Ending Focus on Low Level Offenses
Baltimore City State's Attorney Violent Crimes Rapidly Dropping ... COVID Paved The New Way
The coronavirus pandemic's actually helping Baltimore curb violent crimes, thanks to a change in policy ... according to the city's top prosecutor.
Marilyn Mosby, the State's Attorney for the city of Baltimore, joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and told us how an experimental approach to limiting the spread of the virus is paying big dividends.
Under Mosby, Baltimore stopped prosecuting low-level offenses like drug possession and prostitution when the pandemic first hit ... and ever since, she says violent crime is down a whopping 20 percent.
Marilyn tells us there are other benefits, like fewer folks entering the criminal justice system and less crowded jails, and that's why Baltimore is making the changes permanent.
Now, the city's blazing a new trail ... Baltimore's partnering with a local behavioral health service to help folks in need seek treatment, instead of placing them in handcuffs.
It's a pretty interesting conversation ... and Marilyn tells us why her city's policies could've saved the lives of folks like George Floyd and Eric Garner.
