Bernstein Tells Charles Village It's Time for Action

State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein told the Charles Village Civic Association the time for "campaign promises" is over. Instead, he told the group on Wednesday, he wanted to focus on explaning what changes he's made since winning election last year.

Bernstein said one of the major undertakings has been improving the technology at his office. Doing so has involved taking such basic steps as installing voice mail and replacing decade-old computers used by assistant state's attorneys.

Bernstein said his office is also working to develop a database of cases and also a list of violent repeat offenders.

But he also spoke about initiatives that have not yet materialized.

He said he wants to develop a system of "community prosecution" that has been implemented in other cities such as Philadelphia. Community prosecution would divide the city into three or four zones and assistant state's attorneys would be assigned to a zone and would become familiar with the communities and the police officers in the area. 

His office is also looking for alternatives to prosecution on less serious charges, such as loitering or minor drug possession, that often slow the system from dealing with more serious cases.

Bernstein's work so far has been praised by the Baltimore Police Department.

"The three months the state's attorney has been here things have dramatically changed," Deputy Maj. Richard Worley said.

Worley said communications between prosecutors and police have improved since Bernstein took office.

"The relationship has changed dramatically," he said.