THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY MARYLAND RELAY, EMPOWERING THOSE WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING OR SPEECH DISABLED TO STAY CONNECTED BY PHONE.

[♪♪] CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

COMING UP TONIGHT, WORK BEGINS TO ACCOUNTS FOR HUNDREDS OF UNMARK HADED GRAVES BEHIND A SEGREGATED BOYS' PRISON.

FIRST, CHECKING OUT.

ARE MARYLAND HOTELS IGNORING OBLIGATIONS TO HELP THE VICTIMS.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

NANCY YAMADA HAS OUR STORY.

>> ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS THROUGH EDUCATION.

AND THAT CAN LOOK LIKE TRAINING FRONTLINE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HAD IF THE EVERYDAY SPACES THAT ANYONE OF US FREQUENT.

>> PRESTON FROM A GLOBAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION SAYS WORKERS AT HOTELS CAN SERVE AS A PRIMARY LINE OF DEFENSE AS THEY ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES.

>> I LOVE TO SEE ORGANIZATIONS TO RECOGNIZE WE ARE IN A SPACE WHERE HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS PERHAPS MORE PERVASIVE THAN IT IS IN OTHER PLACES.

SO WE HAVE NOT ONLY AN OPPORTUNITY BUT PERHAPS A RESPONSE CITY TO HELP HAD EDUCATED OUR STAFF AND EFFECTIVELY SEE, RECOLLECT ARENIZE AND RESPOND TO ROOM TRAFFICKING.

>> FOUR YEARS AGO THE MARYLAND LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW REQUIRING LODGING ESTABLISHMENTS TO TRAIN EMPLOYEES OF RECOGNIZING SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

BUT RECORDS REVIEWED SHOW 90% OF THE STATE'S HOTELS, MOTELS AND INN'S FAILED TO SUBMIT THE PAPERWORK OR CERTIFICATION TO PROVE THAT TRAINING IS TAKING PLACE.

>> I AM A LITTLE DISCOURAGED WHAT WILL IT GREAT MARYLAND TO DO THESE THINGS ITCH FAITH THAT WE WILL GET WILL IT.

>> THE DOCTOR IS THE DIRECTOR OF CLINTSD SERVICES FOR THE NONPROFIT WHICH PROVIDES SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND ASSISTANCE TO SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

SHE CONDUCTS TRAINING FOR WORKERS TO SPOT THE SIGNS THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING SEXUALLY EXPLOITED.

>> LOTS OF PEOPLE COMING INTO THE ROOM SO THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE SIGNS WE HAVE.

SOMETIMES, I THINK, PEOPLE DO MISS THE ANXIETY AND THE FEAR OF THAT ODDNESS THAT THAT SURVIVOR MAY PRESENT.

>> WORKERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO LOOK FOR MINORS WHO ARE TRAVELING WITH ADULTS AND RAISING SUSPICIOUS DO NOT DISTURB SIGNS THAT REMAIN ON THE DOOR.

>> YOU SEE A LOT OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS THAT MAYBE YOU CAN SMELL IT OR YOU WILL KNOW THEY HAVE CASH IF YOU HAPPEN TO COME INTO THE ROOM.

THEY WANT YOU TO BRING UP TOWELS AND ASKING FOR TOWELS AND STUFF BUT DON'T WANT THE MAID TO CLEAN THE ROOM.

>> IN A STATEMENT THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION SAYS THERE APPEARS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE DATA AND WHAT IS OCCURRING HOTEL BRANDS REQUIRE HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION AS PART OF THEIR OPERATION PROCEDURES.

THE HOTEL INDUSTRY MADE COMBATING TRAFFICKING A TOP PRIORITY.

THROUGH THE AMERICAN HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION'S FOUNDATION, HOTELS HAVE ACCESS TO TRAINING PROGRAMS RESOURCE GUIDES AND TOOLS DECIDED TO HELP EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY.

EXPERTS SAY PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE CAN BE ON THE FRONTLINES.

>> THE REALITY IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A KREIN THAT EXISTS WITHIN THE MARGINS OF EVERYDAY LIFE T LOOKS MORE MUNDANE AND RECEIVING THAT TRAINING AND THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE EYES OPEN TO WHAT IS FAKING PLACE AND KNOW HOW TO REPORT THAT TO SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP IS THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT ANY PERSON CAN DO.

>> I'M NANCY YAMADA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: THANK YOU.

JOINING US IS AMANDA RODRIGUEZ A FORMER PROSECUTOR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES, AND CURRENTLY THE C.E.O.

OF TURNAROUND INC.

WHICH HELPS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

>> Jeff: WE'VE JUST SEEN HOW MARYLAND HOTELS AT A MINIMUM ARE FAILING TO TRAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES TO RECOGNIZE CASES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

>> SO A LOT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAPPENS IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY.

AND SO BOTH FROM THE STAND POINT OF THE POTENTIAL STAFF THAT ARE COMING IN OR WORKING AS PART OF A CONTRACTOR AND ALSO THOSE THAT ARE RENTING ROOMS AND ENGAGING IN SEX ACTS.

THE HOTEL INDUSTRY IS KEY TO ENSURING WE CAN PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO PEOPLE OR RECOVER THEM IF IT DOES HAPPEN.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE A SENSE THAT THE NATIONAL HOTEL INDUSTRY IS DOING BETTER?

OR MAYBE MARYLAND HAVING STARTED TO REQUIRE THIS TRAINING IS THE ONE DOING BETTER?

>> IN GENERAL, THE HOTEL INDUSTRY HAS BEEN A LEADER IN ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

IN PARTICULAR MARRIOTT HOTELS HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THIS SPACE.

IN GENERAL, IN MARYLAND AND WE KNEW THIS, THE STRUGGLE IS IT'S DISPARATE THAT MARYLAND STATED ASSOCIATION ON HOTELS WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS LEGISLATION DURING THE HEARING.

I DO THINK WE ARE IDENTIFYING THAT IT IS A PROBLEM.

IT IS AN IMPLEMENTATION ISSUE HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE EVERY HOTEL IS COMPLYING WITH THE LAW.

>> Jeff: DO WE KNOW THE SCALE OF THIS PROBLEM?

I MEAN, TO KNOW THE SCALE YOU SORT OF HAVE TO DOCUMENT CASES WHERE IT'S INTERCEPTED OR SOMEBODY IS ABLE TO ESCAPE?

>> I THINK IN GENERAL, BOTH NATIONALLY AND AT THE STATE LEVEL WE HAVE STRUGGLED WITH WHAT THE DATA POINT IS RELATED TO TRAFFICKING.

THE STATE LAW THERE'S LOTS OF LAWS THAT COULD BE APPLIED IN TERMS OF CRIMINALIZATION.

WE HAVE STRUGGLED WITHED NUMBER.

ONE OF THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS I'VE HEARD IN A DECADE 1600 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ADULTS AND THOSE ARE CHILDREN CALLED IN FOR MANDATED REPORTS, CPS REPORTS.

ED NUMBER IS MUCH, MUCH HIGHER THAN WE HAVE SEEN RECORDED.

>> Jeff: I WONDER IF PEOPLE NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HE WITH WE SAY HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

ARE WE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT KIDNAPPING?

>> YEAH, THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

OFTEN WHEN I TRAIN I GET ASKED THE QUESTION DOES IT INVOLVE MOVEMENT AND WE THINK OF DRUG TRAFFICKING THE MOVEMENT OF DRUGS FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS NOT KIDNAPPING INHARNTDLY.

IT IS THE RECRUITMENT THE HOLDING OF SOMEONE, THE FORCING OF SOMEONE TO ENGAGE IN A SEX ACT OR LABOR OR SERVICES.

SO THE BIG ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT TRAFFICKING IS THE PERSON FORCED TO DO THE ACT THEY ARE PERFORMING IF THEY ARE AN ADULT?

AND WHETHER IT'S SEX OR LABOR.

AND IS THE PERSON ACTING IN A PLACE OF RECRUITING THIS INDIVIDUAL, ARE THEY TAKING THIS PERSON FOR THE PURPOSE OF THEM ENGAGING IN SEX WORK.

AND THE OTHER BIG DIFFERENTIATOR IS CHILDREN ENGAGING IN SEX WORK.

IF A CHILD ANY ACT OF SEXUAL GRATIFICATION FOR MONEY THAT CHILD OR -- IT'S GOODS OF ANY KIND THAT CHILD'S AUTOMATICALLY A VICTIM OF TRAFFICKING.

SO THERE IS NO FORCE THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL.

FOR ADULTS WE ARE LOOKING AT THINGS THAT COMMERCIAL SEX ACT IS PRESENT OR SERVICES OR LABOR SOMEONE IS BENEFITING, BUT THE BICKER THING IS SOMEBODY RECRUITING THEM AND TAKING FOR THE PURPOSE OF THEM ENGAGING THAT THING ARE THEY HODDING THEM SOMEWHERE.

IT'S MUCH MORE NUANCED THAN KIDNAPPING OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE OR WAGE AND HOUR LAW ISSUES.

DOES A PERSON FEEL THEY ARE FREE TO GO.

>> Jeff: HOW DO PEOPLE TYPICALLY BECOME VICTIMS?

>> THAT IS ALSO A GREAT QUESTION.

SO ONE OF THE MAIN DRIVERS IS THAT A VERY MANIPULATIVE PERSON KEYS INTO THINGS THAT MAKE US VULNERABLE AND THERE'S DIFFERENT LAYERS OF VULNERABILITIES THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF VULNERABILITY.

>> WHEN I TRAIN, I TALK ABOUT MY VULNERABILITY IS MY CHILDREN IF SOMEBODY WAS THREATENED MY KIDS I WOULD DO ANYTHING TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

PEOPLE AIMING OUT OF FOSTER AIR AND DO NOT HAVE CONNECTION TO FAMILIES.

IF THEY ARE HOMELESS AND HAVE A SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEM THEIR BASIC NEEDS THOSE THINGS MAKE THEM VULNERABLE TO TRAFFICKING.

IF THEY HAVE LIVED IN AREAS OF RACISM AND PRIOR SEXUAL ABUSE ALL THINGS THAT MAKE THEM VULNERABLE AND IT MAKES A TRAFFICKER SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING ABLE TO MANIPULATE THAT VULNERABILITY.

THE THREE STEPS FIRST, THE VULNERABILITY IS IDENTIFIED AND THEN A TRAFFICKER MEETS THAT NEED WHATEVER IT IS AND THEN THE TRAFFICKER ISOLATES THEIR VICTIM FROM GETTING THAT NEED MET ANYWHERE ELSE.

TYPICALLY A VICTIM IS NOT ABLE TO LEAVE EVEN IF THEY WANTED TO.

>> Jeff: WHEN SOMEBODY ESCAPES A SITUATION LIKE THIS, HOW OFTEN IS IT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A BYSTANDER, A HOTEL WORKER OR SOMEBODY ELSE?

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW I CAN'T PUT A NUMBER ON IT BUT I CAN SAY I'VE PROSECUTED CASES WHERE THE VICTIM DID GO DOWN TO THE STAFF AND SAY I NEED HELP OR CAN I USE YOUR PHONE.

WE SEEM TO THINK BECAUSE THERE IS A HOTEL IN THE ROOM THAT THE VICTIM CAN USE THE PHONE IN THE ROOM.

AND THERE IS A REALITY THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

USUALLY THERE'S SAFETY MECHANISMS IN PLACE THERE MIGHT BE A CAMERA IN THE ROOM.

THE STAFF CAN BE VITAL IN ENSURING THAT A VICTIM IS ABLE TO REACH OUT FOR HELP.

AND IF A VICTIM IS REACHING OUT FOR HELP WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE STAFF ARE TRAINED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO OTHERWISE THE VICTIM COULD BE IN MORE DANGER BECAUSE THEY SOUGHT OUT THAT HELP.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK AT TURNPIKE TURN AND HOW -- TURNAROUND AND HOW YOU HELP SOMEONE RESCUED FROM A SITUATION?

>> TURNAROUND HAS BEEN DOING WORK SINCE 2011 A LONGTIME AND WE HAVE FOCUSED ON ENSURING WE ARE TRAUMA INFORMED A VICTIM RESPONSIVE.

WE HAVE A 24/7 HOTLINE A SSURVIVER OR A PERSON CAN CALL THAT HOTLINE AND IMMEDIATELY SPRING INTO ACTION.

THINGS LIKEN SURING THEY HAVE EMERGENCY SHELTER AND SAFE AND THEY CAN START TO HEAL.

WE'RE PROVIDING COUNSELING TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN ADDRESS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.

OFTENTIMES SURVIVORS COME WITH HEALTH ISSUES.

WE'RE CONNECTING THEM TO DOCTORS.

WE ARE MEETING THE BASIC NEEDS.

THINGS LIKE DO THEY HAVE FOOD, CLOTHING.

AND THEN WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS STARTING TO PULL APART TRAUMA BONDS OFTEN WHAT KEEPS THEM CONNECTED TO THE TRAFFICKER LIKE STOCK HOLM'S SYNDROME YOU HAVE TO START ALLOWING THEM THERAPEUTICLY USUALLY THIS CHANCE TO SEPARATE FROM THE INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS DONE HORRIFIC THINGS.

AND LONG-TERM WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION AND LONG-TERM HOUSING.

SO WE'RE MEETING THEM FROM BASELINE ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO WHATEVER THEY NEED.

INCLUDING LEGAL SUPPORT OR IMMIGRATION SUPPORT DEPENDING ON THE TRAFFICKING IT IS.

>> Jeff: I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR WEBSITE AND THERE IS A BUTTON THAT SAYS QUICK EXIT.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT WITH AN AGENCY LIKE OURS THAT A VICTIM CAN FEEL SAFE TO GO TO THE WEBSITE AND SEEK OUT INFORMATION AND IMMEDIATELY CAN CLOSE THAT SITE.

I THINK FOR US A LOT OF OTHER AGENCIES AT THAT TIME DO THIS IT'S VITAL THAT SURVIVOR HAS THE ABILITY TO DO AND CAN IMMEDIATELY GET REMOVE THAT FROM THE SCREEN SO IF THE TRAFFICKER SEES WHAT IS ON THERE IT IS NOT INFORMATION.

>> Jeff: YOUR INTRODUCTION WAS AS A PROSECUTOR.

I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR EXPERIENCES TRYING THESE CASES?

DIFFICULT?

>> YES.

SO I OFTEN EQUATE TRAFFICKING CASES TO REQUIRING THE LEVEL OF EXPERTISE AS TRYING A MURDER CASE.

AND IT REQUIRES A TON OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE YOU HAVE A SURVIVOR THAT IS OFTEN IN A VARIETY OF STAGES OF HEALING.

SO WORKING THROUGH WITH THEM WHERE THEY ARE, THEIR JOURNEY AND HOW TO PREPARE THEM FOR A TRIAL WHICH CAN BE CHALLENGING.

THERE IS ONE CASE THAT LIVES WITH ME I WAS A YOUNG PROSECUTOR AT THE TIME I WAS STARTING TO BUILDUP MY TRIAL SKILLS AND THE TRAFFICKER WAS ABLE TO MANIPULATE ME FROM THE STAND WHEN HE WAS TESTIFYING AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO WATCH.

HE WAS MANIPULATING THE JURY AND THE JUDGE HE MANIPULATED ME AND IT MAKES YOU REALIZE HOW SKILLED THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE AT THEIR CRAFT AT MANIPULATING VICTIMIZING PEOPLE.

AND SO AS A PROSECUTOR THERE WAS THE CHALLENGE OF BUILDING A CASE AND A CHALLENGE OF PROSECUTING THEM IN THE TRIAL COURT TO MAKE SURE THE SENTENCE WAS FAIR AND WAS ADEQUATE FOR THE TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION THAT WAS COMMITTED.

>> Jeff: AMANDA RODRIGUEZ OF TURNAROUND INC., THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANKS FOR YOUR GREAT WORK.

>> I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: A NEW COMMISSION IS STARTING TO WORK TO RESOLVE WHAT HAPPENED AT A SEGREGATED JUVENILE FACILITY NOTORIOUS FOR YEARS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

HUNDREDS OF BLACK CHILDREN DIED WHILE IN STATE CUSTODY IN CHELTEHAM PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY BEGINNING IN THE 1870s AND CONTINUING UNTIL WORLD WAR II.

THE GRAVES ARE LARGELY UNMARKED ON THE GROUNDS OF THE FORMER INSTITUTION.

WE SPOKE WITH THE SENATE SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION CREATING THE COMMISSION, CHAIR SENATOR WILL SMITH.

SENATOR, FOR THE SAKE OF VIEWERS WHO ARE NEW TO THE STORYTELL US WHAT IS KNOWN?

>> SURE.

SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

THIS ISSUE CAME TO MY ATTENTION UNDER THE MOORE ADMINISTRATION WHEN SECRETARY AND MARK SCHINDLER WHO WORKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES ENGAGED IN A PROJECT AND THEY WERE DOING INTERNAL RESEARCH ON THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES WHERE OUR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM OPERATES.

AND THEY FOUND THAT THERE WERE TWO INSTITUTIONS IN MARYLAND HISTORY THAT WERE LARGELY FORGOTTEN AND ONE WAS THE HUGHES OF REFUGE AND THE OTHER HOUSE OF REFORMMATION AND INSTRUCTION.

EVEN BACK THEN, MY PREDECESSOR IN THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNDERSTOOD THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE ADULT PRISON SYSTEM AND SHOULD NOT BE HOUSED WITH ADULTS.

AND SO IN 1830, THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY, PASSED A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT ESTABLISHED THE HOUSE OF REFUGE FOR WHITE CHILDREN ONLY.

AND THAT INSTITUTION DIDN'T BEGIN OPERATIONS UNTIL 1855 BECAUSE OF FUNDING MECHANISMS.

IN 1918 MARYLAND TOOK OVER THAT INSTITUTION.

FAST FORWARD WHITE CHILDREN ARE SEPARATED FROM THE ADULT SYSTEM IN TERMS OF BEING HOUSED SEPARATELY IN MARYLAND WHICH WAS A PROGRESSIVE MOVE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE 1850s BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR.

AND WE ARE ONE OF THE STATES TO ENGAGE IN THIS REFORM.

VERY PROGRESSIVE ON ITS FACE.

IT WAS HE AUNTIL THE 1870 THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAME BACK AND ESTABLISHED THE HOUSE OF REF FORMATION AND INSTRUCTION FOR BLACK CHILDREN AND THE DIFFERENCE IN THE NAME TELLS YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LENS THROUGH WHICH LAW WAS VIEWING WHITE CHILDREN AND BLACK CHILDREN.

THE INSTITUTION FOR WHITE CHILDREN THE HOUSE OF REFUGE AND THE BLACK CHILDREN HOUSE OF REFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION.

THAT PASSES IN 187040 YEARS LATER FROM AFTER THE IT WAS SETUP.

FAST FORWARD WHAT THE RESEARCH FOUND OUT THERE WERE UNMARKED GRAVES IN CELL CHEMICAL IN PRINCE GEORGE'S CHELTEHAM IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

THERE WERE FOUR GRAVES THAT WERE MARKED AND THERE WERE DOZENS UNKNOWN UNMARKED GRAVES THROUGHOUT THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.

ANDTIES PIECE OF PROPERTY ABUTS A VETERANS CEMETERY.

WHICH IS EMACULATELY MANICURED.

I AM A VETERAN IT IS A PLACE OF VENERATION.

BUT THE JUXTAPOSITION BETWEEN THAT AND THIS OVERGROWN FOREST OF FORGOTTEN YOUNG BLACK YOUTH IT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW OUR STATE VIEWED BLACK CHILDREN.

ONE THING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REASON WHY A LOT OF THESE CHILDREN WERE IN THIS INSTITUTION IT WAS FOR VA RANSY AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THE SYSTEM IN OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT AND OUR SOCIETY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO INGEST OR UNDERSTAND OR TREAT PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES.

SO THEY WOULD END UP IN THIS INSTITUTION.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AND YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE 1870s THIS IS AFTER THE CIVIL WAR IN THE MIDST OF RECONSTRUCTION, THESE CHILDREN BEING ROUNDED UP FOR VA GRANDSY WHICH IS WANDERING WITHOUT PURPOSE IS THE DEFINITION STILL ON OUR BOOKS BY THE WAY IN MARYLAND, THEY ARE THEN LENGTH OUT TO SOME OF THE ACCOUNTS ARE THE KIDS WERE LENT OUT TO LOCAL FARMS FOR LABOR UNDER TERRIBLE CONDITIONS.

IT WAS SLAVERY.

AND IT HAPPENED HERE IN MARYLAND.

NOW WE'VE DONE TREMENDOUS RESEARCH AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 200 UNMARKED GRAVES THERE.

AND SO IN RESPONSE TO THIS, THE BLACK CAUCUS GOT TOGETHER AND THEN I WORKED WITH MY COLLEAGUE ACROSS THE STREET IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, DELEGATE JEFFREY LONG THAT IS HIS DISTRICT AND SENATOR KEVIN HARRIS WHOSE DISTRICT, WE WORKED TOGETHER TO PASS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION LAST SESSION THAT CREATES A COMMISSION THAT IS HEADED UP BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE WHAT HAPPENED.

TO REPORT BACK TO US AND THEN TO OFFER RECOMMENDATIONS HOW WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD TO RECONCILE AND TO REMEMBER THIS CRITICAL AND TRAGIC HISTORY CHAPTER OF HISTORY IN MARYLAND HISTORY.

>> Jeff: I HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE SITE.

I'M WONDERING WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU?

YOU'VE BEEN THERE AND WALKED AROUND.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN YOU STAND THERE AND ON THE SUBJECT OF THE FOUR GRAVE MARKERS, TOMBSTONES IS THERE ANY REASON WHY THOSE FOUR EXIST AND THE REST WERE APPARENTLY UNMARKED?

>> THERE ISN'T.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING APART FROM THE GENERAL APPEARANCE OF THIS PLACE I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITH THE TIME TO GO OUT AND SEE THE SITE, BECAUSE IT REALLY BRINGS EVERYTHING HOME.

BUT APART FROM THE OVERGROWN NATURE AND WHEN YOU JUSTIFICATION OPPOSE IT NEXT TO THE MILITARY GRAVEYARD ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE IS HOW YOUNG THE KIDS ARE.

ONE IS 17 YEARS OLD.

ANOTHER PERSON ANTHONY JOHNSON, 11 YEARS OLD.

AS BERRY BROWN, 15 YEARS OLD.

THERE ARE ACCOUNTS THAT THE AFRO DID 60 YEARS AGO AND THEY TALK ABOUT CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS FIVE YEARS OLD.

SOME KIDS SO SMALL THEY COULD SLIP THROUGH THE BARS.

THIS IS THE TYPE OF INSTITUTION THAT WAS OPERATING HERE IN THIS FACILITY.

SO WHEN YOU GO THERE, ONE IS THAT JUST THE OVERGROWN NATURE AND THE NEGLECTED NATURE, A THROW AWAY SPACE, TWO IS THE ABLE.

THESE ARE YOUNG, YOUNG PEOPLE.

WHO SUFFERED TRAGIC DEATHS.

AND IT WAS UNDER THE GUISE OF MARYLAND LAW.

>> Jeff: SO WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF THE COMMISSION?

WHAT EXTENT IS IT LOOKING THROUGH THE ARCHIVES AND TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER WHAT WAS KNOWN, WHO IN THE LEGISLATURE KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND TO WHAT EXTENT IS IT FORENSIC?

DO YOU PLAN TO EXHUME GRAVES TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY MARKINGS THAT WOULD SHOW AN OBVIOUS CAUSE OF DEATH IS THIS.

>> THE COMMISSION CERTAINLY HAS JURISDICTION TO DO THAT.

THE NUMBER ONE STEP IS TO UNDERSTAND OF WHO IS THERE, WHAT HAPPENED AND THE HISTORY OF THE INSTITUTIONS.

MOST IMPORTANTLY AND I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TO ENGAGE WITH THE FAMILIES.

AND TO IDENTIFY FAMILIES AND THEN TO BRING THEM INTO THE FOLD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FAMILIES WANT.

AND TO TAKE THAT DIRECTION INTO CONSIDERATION AS THE COMMISSION MOVES FORWARD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED.

OBVIOUSLY GROUND PENETRATING RADAR AND BODIES BEING EXHUMED ALL POSSIBILITIES.

WE ARE IN THE STAGES OF THE COMMISSION SO THEY ARE DEVELOPING THEIR PRIORITIES BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS AT THE END WE ARE GOING TO GET A REPORT OF WHAT HAPPENED.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE FAMILY MEMBERS INVOLVED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HEAL AS A STATE AFTERWARDS.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME TO LOOK TRAGIC HISTORY IN ITS FACE ESPECIALLY HERE IN MARYLAND AND UNDERSTAND THAT TRAGIC THINGS DID HAPPEN.

AND WE'VE MOVED FORWARD AND IT SHOWS YOU HOW FAR WE'VE COME AND HOW FAR WE NEED TO GO.

IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND BECOMING A BETTER STATE AND COUNTRY IF WE LOOK THAT HISTORY IN ITS FACE AT A TIME WHEN HISTORY IS BEING ERASED OR REWRITTEN, YOU ARE ALMOST GOING THROUGH A SECOND MOVEMENT OF THE LOST CAUSE.

AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT IN TIME TO WRITE THAT HISTORY DOWN, AND TO SHARE IT WITH EVERY MARYLANDER SO WE CAN BE THE BEST VERSION OF OURSELVES THAT WE CAN BE.

>> Jeff: PEOPLE THINK THAT MEDICAL CARE WASN'T GOOD AND THINGS LIKE TUBERCULOSIS COULD SPREAD EASILY.

BUT THERE'S TERRIFIC REPORTING BY THE STUDENT JOURNALISTS AT THE CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE WHO FOUND THAT THE DEATH RATE AT CHELTEHAM WAS NINE TIMES THE DEATH RATE AT THE EQUIVALENT WHITE INSTITUTION.

I MEAN PEOPLE WERE JUST CRAMMED TOGETHER IT SOUNDS LIKE?

>> THEY HAVE DONE SOME FANTASTIC WORK AND HAVE USED CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY TO FURNISH THAT RESEARCH AND REPORTING.

AND YES, YOU ARE RIGHT.

TUBERCULOSIS, THE LACK OF CARE AND THE DEATH RATES, BUT THEN ALSO THE GENERAL CONDITIONS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DOCUMENT, PAINT A VIVID PICTURE OF WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

I WILL ALSO SAY THAT ONE THING BUILDING ON THIS IS THAT WHICH IS AMAZING BECAUSE THIS IS SO INTERTWINED WITH MARYLAND HISTORY IS THAT THESE FACILITIES REMAINED SEGREGATED UNTIL THE 60s.

AND 13-YEAR-OLD BLACK BOY SUED THE STATE OF MARYLAND, ROBERT MEYERS IN 1960.

HIS LAWYERS WERE LAWYERS FROM THE N.A.A.C.P.

AND ANITA JACKSON MITCHELL AND THURGOOD MARSHALL WORKED ON THE CASE.

THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO BE ADMITTED TO PRACTICE IN MAYOR.

THURGOOD MARSHALL THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN JUSTICE FOUGHT AND WON DESEGREGATION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND LAW SCHOOL AND THE SYSTEM AND WAS A BUILDING BLOCK FOR BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION.

ALL OF THESE THINGS COME TOGETHER AND THEY FOUGHT THIS CASE AND DESEGREGATED THAT INSTITUTION IN THE 1960s.

THE HISTORY IS SO RICH WITH THIS INSTITUTION AND WITH THIS PRACTICE WHICH STRETCHES TO CONTEMPORARY TIMES WITH HOW WE TREAT YOUTH AS -- CHARGE YOUTH AS ADULTS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TODAY.

MARYLAND CHARGES MORE YOUTH AS AAADULTS INSTEAD OF ALABAMA.

8 OUT OF 10 ARE BLACK CHILDREN THERE IS A THREW LINE FROM THE PRACTICES OF THE 1870s THROUGH TO THE 60s TO THE 2020'S AND THAT IS A CALL FOR LAWMAKERS NOW SITTING IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MAKE REFORMS.

>> Jeff: STATE SENATOR WILL SMITH WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: WE'RE BACK MONDAY WITH "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND YOUR CHANCE TO ASK THE EXPERTS THAT IS MONDAY EVENING LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY.

CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY MARYLAND RELAY, EMPOWERING THOSE WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING OR SPEECH DISABLED TO STAY CONNECTED BY PHONE.