Marylanders incarcerated for the crime of first-degree rape will no longer be able to get out of prison early on automatic “good time” credits.
Democratic Governor Wes Moore signed SB 1098 or the Pava LaPere Act into law during a bill signing in Annapolis on Thursday.
Diminution in Maryland previously allowed people serving time for violent crimes to earn up to 20 days a month off their sentence, although there were some exceptions. People convicted of rape and third-degree sexual assault against minors 16 and younger were not eligible for automatic diminution.
The law is named after and is a reaction to the murder of tech CEO Pava LaPere — who was allegedly killed by a convicted sex offender released early from prison on the state’s automatic diminution system.
Read more (and listen) at WYPR.
