The Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC), together with many bar and community leaders, is urging the General Assembly to enact Senate Bill 413. This bill would help maintain Maryland’s legal services safety net by allocating additional funds from Maryland’s abandoned property fund.
MCASA’s Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI) receives significant funding from the Maryland Legal Services Corporation that supports low-income victims of sexual assault across the State. SALI uses MLSC funding to support attorneys and advocates in cases including peace and protective orders, school & education issues, U-visas to allow immigrant victims to stay in the US and assist with prosecution, privacy matters, and other issues arising from sexual assault or abuse. MLSC funding is especially critical in child sexual abuse cases.
COVID is increasing the need for legal services.
Perpetrators are emboldened by the pandemic. They are using the pandemic to gain or renew access to victims, intimidate survivors into silence, and interfere with survivors' attempts to seek safety and justice. This crisis has led not only to an increase in the number of survivors seeking services, but to an increase in the number of services survivors seek.
MCASA member programs throughout the state use MLSC funding to help survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. In addition to SALI, these programs serve over 7500 victims using this funds - Life Crisis Center on the Lower Eastern Shore, the Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy, Citizens Assisting and Sheltering the Abused in Washington County, Heartly House in Frederick, HopeWorks in Howard, Sexual Assault/Spousal Abuse Resource Center (SARC) in Harford County, and others.
The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault and its Sexual Assault Legal Institute urge the Budget and Taxation Committee to report favorably on Senate Bill 413
MARYLAND SENATE BUDGET & TAXATION COMMITTEE
Leadership:
Guy J. Guzzone, Chair (District 13, Howard County)
Phone: (410) 841-3572 | (301) 858-3572
E-mail: [email protected]
James C. Rosapepe, Vice Chair (District 21, Prince George's & Anne Arundel Counties)
Phone: (410) 841-3141 | (301) 858-3141
E-mail: [email protected]
Members:
Paul D. Corderman (District 2, Washington County)
Phone: (410) 841-3125 | (301) 858-3125
E-mail: [email protected]
Adelaide C. Eckardt (District 37, Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot, & Wicomico Counties)
Phone: (410) 841-3590 | (301) 858-3590
E-mail: [email protected]
George C. Edwards (District 1, Allegany & Garrett Counties, & parts of Washington County)
Phone: (410) 841-3565 | (301) 858-3565
E-mail: [email protected]
Sarah K. Elfreth (District 30, Anne Arundel County)
Phone: (410) 841-3578 | (301) 858-3578
E-mail: [email protected]
Melony G. Griffith (District 25, Prince George's County)
Phone: (410) 841-3127 | (301) 858-3127
E-mail: [email protected]
Nancy J. King (District 39, Montgomery County)
Phone: (410) 841-3686 | (301) 858-3686
E-mail: [email protected]
Cory V. McCray (District 45, Baltimore City)
Phone: (410) 841-3165 | (301) 858-3165
E-mail: [email protected]
Douglas J. J. Peters (District 23, Prince George's County)
Phone: (410) 841-3631 | (301) 858-3631
E-mail: [email protected]
Johnny Ray Salling (District 6, Baltimore County)
Phone: (410) 841-3587 | (301) 858-3587
E-mail: [email protected]
Ronald N. Young (District 3, Frederick County)
Phone: (410) 841-3575 | (301) 858-3575
E-mail: [email protected]
Craig J. Zucker (District 14, Montgomery County)
Phone: (410) 841-3625 | (301) 858-3625
E-mail: [email protected]
