“Gov. Larry Hogan signed legislation Thursday aimed at reducing the state prison population by more than 1,000 inmates while plowing millions of dollars into crime prevention.
“The state’s broadest criminal justice legislation in decades will reduce sentencing guidelines for drug dealers, thieves and other offenders, while increasing fivefold the number of crimes that can be wiped from an offender’s record.
“Users of illegal drugs will be steered toward treatment, not incarceration. And new rules will help the state go after criminal gangs.”