{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/baltimore-congressional-delegation-inquires-on-status-of-police-consent", "Baltimore Congressional Delegation Inquires on Status of Police Consent Decree", "2016-11-22", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger", "R000576", "ruppersberger.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, DC)\u00a0 \u2014 Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger along with U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, Senator-Elect Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings\u00a0and John Sarbanes (all D-MD) sent a letter yesterday to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Mayor-Elect Catherine Pugh to inquire on the status of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the City of Baltimore\u2019s consent decree negotiations.\nThe Members wrote, \u201cWe appreciate that it is no small task to ensure the decree fully addresses the DOJ recommendations and includes workable implementation steps. \u00a0However, we are hearing growing concern from the community about the status of and delay in drafting the decree. \u00a0We share those concerns. \u00a0It is absolutely imperative that decisive, steady, urgent progress toward crafting a meaningful consent decree be made a top priority by all involved.\u201d\u00a0\nFollowing the release of the DOJ Civil Rights Division\u2019s report on the \u201cpattern or practice\u201d investigation into the Baltimore City Police Department in August, the DOJ and the City began negotiating a consent decree with a goal of having the decree completed by November 1, 2016.\nThe Members continued, \u201cWe are writing to request: (1) an update on the status of the consent decree; and (2) an updated timeline for its completion. \u00a0We also write to strongly urge you to redouble your efforts to ensure that a meaningful decree is completed and approved as soon as possible.\u201d\u00a0\nThe full text of the letter follows:\nThe Honorable Loretta Lynch \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\n\tAttorney General\n\tUnited States Department of Justice\n\t950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\tWashington, DC 20530\nThe Honorable Stephanie Rawlings-Blake\n\tOffice of the Mayor\n\t250 City Hall, 100 N. Holliday Street\n\tBaltimore, MD 21202\nThe Honorable Catherine Pugh\n\t2901 Druid Park Drive, Suite 200C\n\tBaltimore, MD 21215\nDear Attorney General Lynch, Mayor Rawlings-Blake, and Mayor-Elect Pugh,\nWe thank you for your ongoing commitment to ensuring that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the City of Baltimore work together to improve policing in our community through the DOJ\u2019s \u201cpattern or practice\u201d investigation. \u00a0The findings released by the DOJ Civil Rights Division in its report this summer, as well as subsequent input from the Baltimore City community, have reaffirmed that the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) is in dire need of reform and that the relationship between the BPD and the community is in disrepair.\n\tWe understand that the City of Baltimore and the DOJ are negotiating a consent decree as the next step in the process of this investigation, and had been working toward a goal of November 1, 2016. \u00a0However, that date passed almost three weeks ago, and a draft consent decree has still not yet been released. \u00a0\nWe appreciate that it is no small task to ensure the decree fully addresses the DOJ recommendations and includes workable implementation steps. \u00a0However, we are hearing growing concern from the community about the status of and delay in drafting the decree. \u00a0We share those concerns. \u00a0It is absolutely imperative that decisive, steady, urgent progress toward crafting a meaningful consent decree be made a top priority by all involved. \u00a0\nWe are writing to request: (1) an update on the status of the consent decree; and (2) an updated timeline for its completion. \u00a0We also write to strongly urge you to redouble your efforts to ensure that a meaningful decree is completed and approved as soon as possible. \u00a0We appreciate the significant time and energy required to prepare for the transition of a mayoral administration, but it is absolutely necessary that the consent decree be a top priority for all at this crucial time. \u00a0The safety of our community is at stake.\n\tThank you again for your devotion to the people of Baltimore. \u00a0We are eagerly awaiting an update. \u00a0\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://ruppersberger.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/baltimore-congressional-delegation-inquires-on-status-of-police-consent"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.377368113026023, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}