Technical Assistance for the Baltimore (Maryland) Police Department Implementation of Consent Decree Remedial Measures

Project Purpose/Goal

On April 7, 2017, the United States, the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, and the Baltimore (Maryland) Police Department (BPD) entered into a consent decree to resolve the findings of a civil rights investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) into the practices of the BPD.The BPD continues to work toward the measures outlined in the consent decree and toward reforming policing in Baltimore to increase community trust and police legitimacy and to reduce violent crime in the city.

To support the efforts of the City of Baltimore and the BPD in implementation of the 2017 Consent Decree, through funding from the Ford Foundation, the National Police Foundation currently serves as a Technical Advisor to BPD, providing subject matter expertise and other support to BPD on a broad array of reforms the department is currently undertaking. So far, the National Police Foundation team has supported BPD in completing a Technology Resource Study, which was approved by the Monitoring Team and accepted by the Federal Judge in June 2018; completing a Staffing Study, which was approved by the Monitoring Team and accepted by the Federal Judge in September 2018; and is currently supporting BPD’s development of a Community Engagement Strategy, including conducting focus groups and an inventory of ongoing community engagement at the BPD. Read the Technology Resource Study, Staffing Study, or visit the BPD Consent Decree Website.

Study Method

The National Police Foundation staff works in partnership with subject matter experts to address key areas identified for the BPD Technical Assistance for Consent Decree Compliance (TACDC). In collaboration with the BPD, the NPF teams develop unique strategies tailored to Baltimore and to the requested compliance area. Generally, the technical assistance includes:

  • gathering relevant information on-site to include interviews with BPD staff members, the Baltimore community and stakeholders, focus groups, and direct observation of BPD practices and needs, development of surveys;
  • gathering information off-site through materials requests, follow-up interviews, and open source and national promising practice research;
  • analyzing departmental documentation, materials, and data to assess existing strengths and needs going forward, and;
  • developing reports and other products – as requested by BPD – that compile, organize, and describe BPD strengths and needs in the assessment areas, as well as strategies and plans for moving the department toward full compliance.

Funding & Collaboration

The National Police Foundation’s Technical Assistance for the BPD Implementation of Consent Decree Remedial Measures is funded by the Ford Foundation.

Points of Contact

Jennifer Zeunik
Director of Programs
(202) 833-1460
Jzeunik@policefoundation.org

Blake Norton
Senior Vice President
(202) 833-1460
bnorton@policefoundation.org

Keywords

Technical assistance; consent decree; compliance; staffing; technology; resource assessment; community policing; focus groups; community engagement