Former Maryland State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks is facing backlash over controversial police reforms she implemented, which critics argue have led to a surge in crime.
In 2020, following George Floyd’s death and the resignation of Prince George County’s Police Chief Hank Stawinski amid allegations of misconduct and discrimination, Alsobrooks responded to calls for police reform. She established the Prince George’s County Police Reform Working Group, which produced a report with nearly 50 recommendations addressing racism and policing.
Alsobrooks, now running against former Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan for retiring Sen. Ben Cardin’s seat, accepted 46 of these recommendations in 2021, asserting that communities deserve both justice and freedom.
One controversial reform involved reallocating $20 million from a police training facility to a mental health rehabilitation center for prisoners. Alsobrooks justified this by emphasizing the need for restorative approaches to address low-level crimes and provide mental health services, a sentiment echoed by then-state Del. Alonzo Washington.
During a 2022 interview, Alsobrooks explained the decision, highlighting that the reallocation, approved by the County Council and voters, aimed to provide better care for individuals rather than relying solely on incarceration.
However, this reallocation coincided with a significant rise in crime in Prince George’s County, including a 16% increase in overall violent crime from 2019 to 2020, a 58% increase in homicides, a 19% increase in robberies, and a 15% increase in aggravated assaults. FBI statistics indicate a 30% rise in violent crime through 2022.
Alsobrooks has also faced criticism during her primary campaign for not being progressive enough. Challenger David Trone criticized her for supporting the death penalty in a murder case as state attorney, while Prince George’s County Councilwoman Krystal Oriadha claimed Alsobrooks hadn’t shown sufficient support for the LGBT community as county executive.
