A state senator who is moving to ban felons from receiving state aid for crime victims has narrowed his focus to those convicted of mostly violent offenses.
Sen. James Brochin, a Baltimore County Democrat, said yesterday he has drafted legislation restricting the way the state distributes awards from the Maryland Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. His measure would disqualify anyone convicted of a felony in 20 categories, including assault, robbery, carjacking, arson, child abuse, rape and certain drug-related offenses.
Brochin intends to introduce the legislation as early as today, he said, as an amendment to a bill related to the board that administers the aid.
Brochin drafted the legislation in response to a report published Sunday in The Sun that nearly $1.8 million was awarded to 217 offenders in Baltimore since 2003. Of that, payments of $1.1 million went to at least 147 felons or their families, including two convicted murderers, a Bloods gang member killed by a fellow Blood and dozens of drug dealers.
The report was based on data that The Sun requested under the Maryland Public Information Act to learn more about recipients of the aid. Several were contacted and interviewed for the article.
After saying Monday that he would move to ban all felons, Brochin said he had reconsidered that stance. The intention is not to deny someone convicted of shoplifting 20 years ago, he said, but to disqualify mainly violent offenders who have carjacked, robbed at gunpoint and raped.
"I don't think they should get a nickel at all," Brochin said.
Brochin is a member of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, which held a hearing yesterday on bills that would extend compensation awards to state residents who have been victimized overseas and prevent victims' Social Security numbers from being disclosed to the public.
Robin Woolford, the executive director of the compensation program, urged the panel to restore provisions in the latter bill to prevent victims' names and contact information from being disclosed.
Sen. Norman R. Stone Jr., a Baltimore County Democrat, noted during the hearing that he was a member of the General Assembly when it created the fund, in 1968. He said the compensation wasn't intended to benefit prisoners.josh.mitchell@baltsun.com