Millions Diverted from Police to Mental Health Facility during Crime Surge

In a top Senate race this year, a Democrat previously redirected millions of dollars from law enforcement to finance a mental health facility, even as crime continued to rise.

In June 2020, Angela Alsobrooks, the Prince George's County executive who is running for Senate, announced that $20 million from the county budget, originally allocated for a new police training facility, would instead be used to address mental health and addiction issues.

During her announcement about reallocating resources in Prince George's County jails, Alsobrooks stated that a third of inmates suffered from mental illnesses, including addiction, and that it was unfair to treat them in jail, according to Maryland Matters.

The reallocation of funds from the police department occurred during a time of nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd, which resulted in increased calls for defunding police by Democrats and left-wing activists. Additionally, there was a surge in violent crime that year, including a historic 30% nationwide increase in the murder rate from the previous year, according to FBI statistics.

Prince George's County experienced a 16% increase in overall violent crime from 2019 to 2020, with a 58% increase in homicides, a 19% increase in reported robberies, and a 15% increase in reported aggravated assaults, according to FBI statistics. However, the county did see a small drop in property crime from 2019-2020.

Despite the rise in crime in her county, Alsobrooks remained committed to her decision to redirect funds years later during a conversation with Ebenezer AME Church.

During our administration, we reallocated $20 million away from a police training facility, which was very expensive. However, we still have a training facility. I have decided that people cannot be healed in jail, as stated in the January 2022 interview by Alsobrooks.

"With the approval of the County Council and your vote in 2020, we have reallocated $20 million to open a new mental health care and addictions care facility in partnership with luminous health care. This facility will provide healing care to our loved ones instead of treating them in jail."

Angela Alsobrooks, as the chief law enforcement official, oversaw a 50% decrease in violent crime and, as County Executive, increased the police department's budget by 22% over her tenure.

During Alsbobrooks' tenure as the state attorney for Prince George's County from 2011 to 2018, violent crime decreased by 50%.

The violent crime rate in the county has risen by 30% from 2018 to 2022, as per FBI statistics.

Larry Hogan, a former Republican governor of Maryland, will face Alsobrooks in the November general election.

Despite being a traditionally deep-blue state, elections analysts predict that the race is "likely Democratic," but Hogan's high approval rating upon leaving office in 2023 could make the race competitive.

Stay up-to-date with the latest news and exclusive interviews from the 2024 campaign trail at our Planet Chronicle Digital election hub.