Sexual Assault Cases In Baltimore County Under Microscope

TOWSON, MD — A Baltimore County task force will examine how the county's police and other agencies handle sexual assault investigations, County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced Monday. The move comes after Olszewski asked the police department to suspend the use of sexual assault confidential release authorizations, saying they've been used excessively.

"Our residents deserve to know that, when they are the victim of sexual assault, law enforcement will respond with all of the resources at their disposal to bring justice," Olszewski said in a statement. "Too often in the past, this hasn’t always been the case.

“I was disappointed when I heard about the excessive use of confidential release authorizations and I immediately asked Chief Terry Sheridan to suspend this practice,” he said.

The task force will examine current investigation and prosecution policies, practices and training related to sexual assault complaints, the county said.

The county also has partnered with Baltimore County’s rape crisis center, TurnAround, to promote their helpline, which is staffed by trained advocates and available to survivors 24/7. Advocates can be reached at 443-279-0379.

The task force members include:

• Sheryl Goldstein, the vice president of the Abell Foundation, who will chair the task force;
• David Thomas, a program manager with the International Association of Chiefs of Police;
• Rosalyn Branson, the CEO of TurnAround; Laura Clary, a program manager, at GBMC for the sexual assault forensic exam or SAFE Program;
• John Cox, the deputy state's attorney from the Baltimore County State's Attorney’s Office;
• Lt. Brian Edwards, commander of the Baltimore County Police Department’s Special Victim’s Unit;
• and Nadia BenAissa, a student at UMBC/We Believe You.