Governor Larry Hogan traveled to Baltimore Tuesday to discuss the city's growing crime rate.
Hogan met with a number of Baltimore officials, including Mayor Catherine Pugh, State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby and Police Commissioner Kevin Davis. He called it a 'frank and honest discussion' about crime and the ever-growing murder rate in the city.
So far in 2017, Baltimore has recorded more than 230 murders.
After the meeting Hogan addressed the media and said he will push a new crime package in next year's General Assembly, including a truth in sentencing statute. He added that changes have already been made, including parole and probation officers that are now placed in every Baltimore district.
.@LarryHogan on judges absence during this #Baltimore crime meeting... @ABC2NEWS pic.twitter.com/pehGLMMbdD
— Brian Kuebler (@BrianfromABC2) August 29, 2017
The meeting was supposed to involve judges from the Baltimore City Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, but late last week three judges sent a letter to Hogan saying they would not be attending.
Hogan addressed this during his news conference and said he was very disappointed they did not come.
The Baltimore Sun reported the judges didn't think it would be appropriate because they shouldn't be influenced by public opinion.
The meeting was not open to the press or the public, something that former head of the NAACP Ben Jealous, also a democratic candidate for governor, did not agree with.
He said this is a discussion that deserves public input, from people who are directly impacted by the violence.
