My children's father is currently incarcerated. His rap lyrics were used to wrongfully convict him, a practice that raises serious concerns about the protection of creative expression and freedom of speech. This personal experience has driven me to advocate for the passage of House Bill 1429, also known as the PACE Act.

The PACE Act aims to protect the admissibility of creative expression in criminal or juvenile proceedings. It states that a defendant's or respondent's creative expression should not be admissible against them unless certain findings are made by the court. This legislation is crucial for preserving artistic freedom and preventing misuse of an individual’s creativity in legal settings.

According to studies, there have been numerous cases where lyrics or other forms of artistic expression have been used as evidence in courtrooms (Nellis & Savage, 2012). This practice can lead to wrongful convictions based on misinterpretation and bias rather than concrete evidence.

We need your support now more than ever. By signing this petition, you are advocating for justice and fairness within our legal system while protecting our fundamental right to free speech and creative expression. Please sign this petition today and help us pass House Bill 1429 - The PACE Act!

Email delegate Marlin Amprey marlon.amprey@house.state.md.us 

Delegates: Toles, Boafo, Bouchat, Conaway, Crutchfield, Harris, J.Lewis, Munoz, Pasteur, Phillips, Roberson, Ruff, Simmons, Smith, Stewart, Taylor, Tomlinson, Wells, and Wilkins