“Zero tolerance, abated by arrest, mandatory minimums: all words that have come to define criminal justice in Baltimore. And until recently, they were also a catalyst for change. After years of putting most of its resources into policing, it appeared the city was ready to seek other solutions. Particularly after the unrest following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody it seemed the tide had turned towards community investment instead of jails, but after another record month of homicides that progress is in jeopardy. Last week the mayor and police commissioner announced plans for stricter gun laws; a measure that would include a mandatory minimum sentence for possession of a handgun near a school, church or public building. So are we headed back to the old policies, and is it possible to actually reform policing amid rising crime? Are we ignoring the underlying causes of violence, poverty, and inequity? These are the critical questions our expert panel will attempt to answer.”