The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has released its second annual report, which covers October 2022 – December 2023 investigations of police-involved fatalities in Maryland.
Per a press release from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: A copy of the report can be found here. The IID investigates all police-involved incidents that result in the death of an individual or injuries that are likely to result in the death of an individual occurring in the State of Maryland. The IID was created by the Maryland General Assembly in the spring of 2021 as part of a large package of police accountability and reform bills.
The IID’s first annual report covered its first 12 months in existence – October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022. This second annual report examines the last 15 months of IID’s cases from
October 1, 2022, through December 31, 2023. The annual report includes statistics for 20 cases, legal updates, and an overall look at the Division’s investigative process.
Prosecution authority for fatal police-involved cases changed partway through that fifteen-month period. Prior to October 1, 2023, prosecution authority rested with local State’s Attorneys.
Accordingly, at the end of an investigation, the IID prepared a report and transmitted it to the local State’s Attorney of the county, or Baltimore City, that has jurisdiction to prosecute the
matter. The report contained detailed investigative findings and an analysis of relevant legal issues. In those cases, the local State’s Attorney, not the IID, makes the decision of whether a
case should be criminally charged and handles any subsequent prosecution. For incidents occurring after October 1, 2023, the Office of the Attorney General, IID, has the sole authority,
where appropriate, to prosecute police-involved incidents that result in the death of an individual or injuries that are likely to result in the death of an individual.