Bill > HB1320

This bill requires law enforcement officers and District Court commissioners to inform victims or their representatives about their ability to request notifications regarding a defendant's custody status and court hearings, utilizing the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) system, a statewide digital platform for court case management. If a victim or their representative requests this notification, the law enforcement officer must provide this request to the District Court commissioner at the time of charging, who will then enter it into the MDEC system. Subsequently, the State's Victim Information and Notification Everyday vendor will notify the victim or their representative about the defendant's release from custody and scheduled court appearances. Additionally, prosecuting attorneys will also be required to inform victims or their representatives of this notification option within 10 days of filing a criminal information in District Court. Victims or their representatives can request these notifications by filing a form or following the MDEC system protocol, which also allows them to keep their contact information confidential by designating a third party to receive notifications or by requesting confidentiality through the MDEC system for specific authorized entities.

Justice

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1320?ys=2026RS