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Robert Ehrlich on Crime
Former Republican MD Governor; previously Representative (MD-2)
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Opposes moratorium on death penalty
Glendening’s moratorium is to last a year. In the fall, the state gets a death penalty study from the University of Maryland. Not long thereafter, Glendening leaves office. The next governor can make up his, or her, own mind on the moratorium.
Robert Ehrlich, knowing his constituency, condemns the moratorium. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a backer of the death penalty but one who knows her own constituency, calls the moratorium a small price to pay while we wait for advice on fairness.
Source: Michael Olesker, Baltimore Sun
, May 14, 2002
Resurrect boot camps for juvenile justice
Ehrlich said that he would resurrect boot camps for young criminals if elected governor, signaling that his campaign will focus heavily on a maligned program that imploded under the leadership of Lt. Gov. Townsend. Ehrlich said he was nearing
completion of a policy proposal for the state’s juvenile justice system. For some less-violent young offenders, “boot camps are the right solution,” Ehrlich said. “Our proposal will have a boot-camp component.”
Such programs have effectively prevented
teens from committing additional crimes in other places, Ehrlich said. He said the camps could work if mental-health treatment and follow-up care components were bolstered. “Other states are getting results,” he said, mentioning Florida as an example.
Maryland operated three juvenile boot camps in Allegany County from 1996 until 1999, when the facilities were closed after The Sun published articles describing repeated beatings and violence by guards against young criminals.
Source: David Nitkin, Baltimore Sun
, Apr 23, 2002
Voted NO on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.
Vote on an amendment that would reduce the funding for violent offender imprisonment by and truth-in-sentencing programs by $61 million. The measure would increase funding for Boys and Girls Clubs and drug courts by the same amount.
Reference: Amendment sponsored by Scott, D-VA;
Bill HR 4690
; vote number 2000-317
on Jun 22, 2000
Voted YES on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime.
Vote to pass a bill to appropriate $1.5 billion to all of the states that want to improve their juvenile justice operations. Among other provisions this bill includes funding for development, implementation, and administration of graduated sanctions for juvenile offenders, funds for building, expanding, or renovating juvenile corrections facilities, hiring juvenile judges, probation officers, and additional prosecutors for juvenile cases.
Reference: Bill introduced by McCollum, R-FL;
Bill HR 1501
; vote number 1999-233
on Jun 17, 1999
Voted NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals.
Vote on an amendment to delete provisions in the bill that would make it harder for prisoners who have been given the death penalty in state courts to appeal the decision on constitutional grounds in the federal courts ['Habeas Corpus'].
Bill HR 2703
; vote number 1996-64
on Mar 14, 1996
Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder.
Vote on a bill to make it harder for prisoners who have been given the death penalty in state courts to appeal the decision on constitutional grounds in the federal courts.
Bill HR 729
; vote number 1995-109
on Feb 8, 1995
Rated 20% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes.
Ehrlich scores 20% by CURE on rehabilitation issues
CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants) is a membership organization of families of prisoners, prisoners, former prisoners and other concerned citizens. CURE's two goals are
- to use prisons only for those who have to be in them; and
- for those who have to be in them, to provide them all the rehabilitative opportunities they need to turn their lives around.
The ratings indicate the legislator’s percentage score on CURE’s preferred votes.
Source: CURE website 00n-CURE on Dec 31, 2000
No TV, R-rated movies, or coffeepots in prison cells.
Ehrlich co-sponsored the Federal No Frills Prisons Act:
Title: To prohibit the use of Federal funds for certain amenities and personal comforts in the Federal prison system. Summary: Prohibits the use of Federal funds to provide the following amenities or personal comforts in the Federal prison system: - in-cell television viewing;
- viewing of a motion picture rated R, X, or NC-17;
- instruction or training equipment for specified fighting arts, bodybuilding, or weightlifting;
- an in-cell coffee pot, hot plate, or heating element; or
- an electric or electronic musical instrument.
Source: House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HR1031 on Mar 14, 2001
Require DNA testing for all federal executions.
Ehrlich co-sponsored the Innocence Protection Act:
Title: To reduce the risk that innocent persons may be executed.
Summary: Authorizes a person convicted of a Federal crime to apply for DNA testing to support a claim that the person did not commit: - the Federal crime of which the person was convicted; or
- any other offense that a sentencing authority may have relied upon when it sentenced the person with respect to such crime.
- Prohibits a State from denying an application for DNA testing made by a prisoner in State custody who is under sentence of death if specified conditions apply.
- Provides grants to prosecutors for DNA testing programs.
- Establishes the National Commission on Capital Representation.
- Withholds funds from States not complying with standards for capital representation.
- Provides for capital defense incentive grants and resource grants.
- Increases compensation in Federal cases, and sets forth provisions regarding compensation in State cases, where an individual is unjustly sentenced to death.
- Adds a certification requirement in Federal death penalty prosecutions.
- Expresses the sense of Congress regarding the execution of juvenile offenders and the mentally retarded.
Source: House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HR912 on Mar 7, 2001
Supports capital punishment for certain crimes.
Ehrlich supports the CC survey question on capital punishment
The Christian Coalition voter guide [is] one of the most powerful tools Christians have ever had to impact our society during elections. This simple tool has helped educate tens of millions of citizens across this nation as to where candidates for public office stand on key faith and family issues.
The CC survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Capital punishment for certain crimes, such as first degree murder & terrorism"
Source: Christian Coalition Survey 10-CC-q8 on Aug 11, 2010
More prisons, more enforcement, effective death penalty.
Ehrlich signed the Contract with America:
[As part of the Contract with America, within 100 days we pledge to bring to the House Floor the following bill]:
The Taking Back Our Streets Act:
An anti-crime package including stronger truth in sentencing, “good faith” exclusionary rule exemptions, effective death penalty provisions, and cuts in social spending from this summer’s crime bill to fund prison construction and additional law enforcement to keep people secure in their neighborhoods and kids safe in their schools.
Source: Contract with America 93-CWA4 on Sep 27, 1994
Page last updated: Jul 25, 2017