The R Street Institute announced on March 10 its support for Maryland House Bill 1392, known as the Community-Oriented Policing Act, during testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. Jillian E. Snider, resident senior fellow of criminal justice and civil liberties at the institute, delivered the testimony in favor of legislation that would prohibit law enforcement agencies from imposing quotas on officers.
The proposed bill aims to address concerns about constitutional rights and policing practices by eliminating numerical targets for stops, citations, or arrests. Supporters say this measure is intended to foster genuine community engagement and improve public safety outcomes.
Snider said, “We support this bipartisan legislation that seeks to prohibit the use of quotas within law enforcement agencies because it addresses critical concerns regarding constitutional rights, the integrity of policing practices, and the overarching goal of fostering genuine community engagement to enhance public safety.” She described her experience as a retired New York City Police Department officer and emphasized that quota-driven policing can undermine both officer discretion and community trust. “Effective policing is about problem-solving, community engagement, and strategic interventions—not simply generating numbers to meet arbitrary targets,” Snider said.
She explained that quotas may lead officers to prioritize quantity over quality in their actions, potentially resulting in capricious stops or searches that infringe upon Fourth Amendment protections. Snider also noted that such policies can pressure officers into making unnecessary stops or arrests just to meet set targets: “Officers were often pressured to issue a certain number of summonses, make a specified number of stops, or effect a minimum number or arrests even if they did not believe those actions were absolutely necessary.” According to her testimony, these practices risk eroding trust between police departments and communities while diverting resources away from addressing serious crimes.
Snider concluded by urging lawmakers to approve the bill: “I urge the committee to grant this legislation a favorable report and take a critical step toward a more transparent and fair system of policing.” The R Street Institute’s endorsement reflects broader national discussions about police reform measures aimed at improving accountability and strengthening relationships between law enforcement agencies and local communities.
