Criminal Procedure - Victim Notification - Request at the Time of Charging
Summary
HB1320 expands and clarifies Maryland’s victim-notification procedures in criminal cases. The bill requires a law enforcement officer or District Court commissioner, at the time of first contact or charging, to inform a victim or victim’s representative that they may request notification through the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) system about a defendant’s custody status and court hearings. If the request is made to law enforcement, the officer must pass it to the District Court commissioner at charging, and the commissioner must enter it into MDEC so the State’s Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) vendor can send notices.
The bill also adds a parallel notice requirement for criminal informations filed in District Court, requiring the prosecuting attorney to inform the victim or representative of the MDEC notification option within 10 days. It preserves existing victim-notice procedures in circuit court and juvenile matters, while allowing victims to request confidentiality for their address, phone number, and email through the MDEC protocol without filing a motion to seal. The act takes effect October 1, 2026.
Impact
HB1320 amends Criminal Procedure § 11-104 to create an earlier and more standardized path for victims to opt into electronic notification services, especially at the charging stage. It affects law enforcement officers, District Court commissioners, prosecuting attorneys, court clerks, and the State’s notification vendor by assigning each a role in transmitting or entering notification requests. It also reinforces the use of MDEC for victim-notice administration and expands confidentiality protections for victim contact information.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support and little visible opposition. It passed the House on third reading unanimously, 127-0, and the committee report was favorable. The available record does not include committee debate, but the voting history suggests the measure was viewed as a practical victim-services improvement rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
No major points of contention are evident in the available materials. The main policy issue is administrative: shifting notification requests to the time of charging and requiring officers, commissioners, and prosecutors to ensure the request is entered into MDEC. Any concerns would likely center on implementation burden, training, and coordination among criminal justice agencies, but the bill text and voting record do not show organized opposition or disputed amendments.