Evidence is admissible in criminal cases when prosecutors present properly authenticated testimony even if all witnesses in the chain of custody cannot be produced, the state’s highest court has held.

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Baltimore police department's body worn camera program was praised, but policies that allow officers to review footage before writing reports continue to be criticized.

Tagged with: Baltimore Police Department body cameras civil rights evidence

The apparent failure of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office to flag a body camera video that allegedly showed an officer manipulating the footage highlights the downside to having hours of recordings of arrests as the cameras become more prevalent: ...

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Bills affecting evidence in sexual assault trials, opioid distribution charges, shielding of criminal records and the enforcement powers of the Office of the Comptroller all returned to the General Assembly in 2017 with varying degrees of success. Legislation to allow ...

Tagged with: criminal procedure evidence General Assembly office of the comptroller

Legislation to allow evidence of past sexually assaultive behavior into criminal trials has again stalled in the General Assembly despite backing from the governor’s office. The measures would allow prosecutors to introduce evidence of a defendant’s past behavior that would ...

Tagged with: evidence Maryland General Assembly maryland rules sexual assault

Legislation to allow prosecutors to introduce evidence at trial of past sexually assaultive behavior under limited circumstances has returned to the General Assembly, and while advocates say it is narrowly tailored and includes procedural safeguards, defense attorneys maintain it is ...

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The impact of the widespread use of police body cameras is still uncertain, but as larger departments continue to put more cameras on the street, prosecutors and defense attorneys have a more immediate concern: how to find time to review ...

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The officer facing the most severe charges for his alleged role in the death of Freddie Gray will go to trial next week but not before pretrial motions addressing venue, juror issues and evidence are dealt with at a hearing ...

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Maryland's chief public defender asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to review and overturn a state high court ruling that police acted constitutionally when they used the DNA sample a homeless man gave them for a rape investigation to link him to an unrelated burglary.

Tagged with: appellate litigation crime dna evidence fourth amendment Paul DeWolfe

The Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office has, under the Maryland Rules, until the end of the month to turn over discovery in the Freddie Gray case. But lawyers for the six indicted police officers said last week in court filings ...

Tagged with: Baltimore baltimore city state's attorney's office crime evidence Freddie Gray Marilyn Mosby