Maryland Lawmakers Take Up Police Reform After Baltimore Unrest

Baltimore rioting over the death of a black man from injuries in police custody is spurring Maryland lawmakers to take action on criminal justice reform after legislation stalled in the statehouse.
Legislators hope that the death of Freddie Gray, 25, can galvanize the Democratic-controlled state Assembly after bids for reforms, especially one that would alter a state law giving police special rights, went nowhere in the last legislative session.
State Senator Catherine Pugh, co-chair of a 20-member bipartisan working group appointed this month to study police issues, said "Unfortunately for Freddie Gray, he becomes symbolic of similar type of issues facing police departments across the nation."
Maryland, one of the most liberal U.S. states, is the latest to grapple with reforms after the death of Gray and those of other unarmed black males at the hands of police in Missouri, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and elsewhere.