In a significant move, Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic candidate running for the Senate seat in Maryland, diverted $20 million from a planned police training facility to establish a mental health and addiction treatment center in Prince George's County. This decision was made in June 2020 amidst a national outcry following the death of George Floyd and calls for police defunding.
Alsobrooks justified the reallocation by highlighting the high percentage of inmates with mental health issues in county jails, emphasizing the need for alternative treatment approaches. However, this decision coincided with a surge in violent crime rates both nationally and within Prince George's County.
