MD HB1320

Law enforcement officers and District Court commissioners must inform crime victims or their representatives at first contact of their right to request notification through the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) system regarding a defendant's custody status and court hearings.

When a law enforcement officer receives a notification request from a victim, they must forward that request to the District Court commissioner at the time of charging.

District Court commissioners must enter victim notification requests into the MDEC system, which then triggers the State's Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) vendor to notify victims of defendant releases and scheduled court hearings.

Prosecuting attorneys must inform victims of their notification rights within 10 days after filing a criminal information in District Court.

The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.