I am concerned about the proposed changes to Maryland’s geriatric parole policy (HB157, SB98). This bill, if passed, will allow prisoners who are over 60 and have served at least 15 years of their sentence to be eligible for parole every two years. I’m asking that you consider adding a domestic violence exception to the proposed bills. Each bill has an exception for felons on the sex offenders registry and domestic violence is most similar to sexual violence in motivations and opportunities than it is to other violence crimes. Both bills are still in committee, so now is our chance to act. 

My best friend, Lauren Charles, was murdered brutally by her husband. FOX5 has created a special with her story. You can find it here: https://youtu.be/wrfmar27lS0 I was interviewed in it. He attacked her in her sleep. Beat her with a Buddha statue and shoved a pillowcase down her throat. It was so fast, she didn’t get a chance to fight back at all. She crawled from her bed and died facedown on the floor, trying to protect her head.

Her killer, Reginald Dunlap, is in his mid-forties and was sentenced to life in prison with all but 55 years suspended. At his sentencing, an ex-girlfriend submitted a written statement that he also tried to suffocate her with a pillow case. Because he is 45 now, this bill will make him eligible for parole after 15 years, instead of the 55 years he was sentenced to. 

I believe unequivocally in criminal justice reform. The system is corrupt, classist, and racist. But there is not a bone in my body that doesn’t believe this man will hurt another woman if given the chance. He spent all of his time at sentencing lying and manipulating. He is a monster. And while our criminal justice system is so flawed, violence against women and femicide are epidemics.

1 in 3 women will experience intimate partner violence and those numbers are likely low due to underreporting. 40% of black women will experience intimate partner abuse in their lifetime. And, three-fifths of individuals convicted of domestic violence are rearrested within two years—and 67% of this group are rearrested for another domestic violence offense. We don’t have enough statistics on recidivism rates over 60, unfortunately. But, these crimes aren’t comparable to other violent crimes. 

Lauren’s community experienced a devastating loss in losing her. Sentencing her killer won’t bring any of us justice, but it may save another woman and another community. I am not out for revenge. I want to protect women. And having experienced such a loss first-hand, parole at 60 doesn’t feel like enough to mitigate the risk. We care about the inequities being done to black men in our justice system, but do we care enough about the violence being done to black women? Homicide is the #2 cause of death in black women ages 1-19 years old and the #4 cause of death to black women ages 20-44. 

I urge you to think about this. Think about how it could be any woman you know or love in this situation. Abusers are manipulative. Their motivations and opportunities are more akin to that of sexual abusers and you have an exception for that in your bill. Lauren was beyond smart and successful and was still trapped by him. If women hold the same value as men, then he (and others like him) are a severe danger to society. 

See both bills here: HB157 and SB98