The Pava Marie LaPere Act is introduced at the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office

The Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office today announced new legislation that would change Maryland’s early release system for incarcerated people following the killing of beloved tech founder and EcoMap CEO Pava LaPere.

Figures in Baltimore’s tech community have penned letters to legislators advocating for the new bill, moved to action by the situation surrounding Jason Billingsley, who has been indicted in connection with LaPere’s death.

“Baltimore public safety is something I am passionate about and the existing holes in Maryland legislation affect everyone’s safety in Maryland but, especially the women who contribute so much to Baltimore city and the larger Maryland ecosystem,” Juliana Buonanno, CEO and founder of TechSlice, told Technical.ly.

She’s one of many who questions whether Billingsley should have been free at the time of LaPere’s killing.

Currently, diminution credits in Maryland prisons operate by reducing the period of incarceration rather than altering the length of the original sentence.

These credits might be deducted from someone’s term of confinement or the length of an incarceration sentence. The new legislation would expand restrictions on the credits for people convicted of first degree sexual assault crimes, which Billingsley has been.

Buonanno was in attendance at the invite-only press conference announcing the new legislation, where other community members will have the opportunity to provide support, comment on the bill, and provide “impact” statements.

“We are requesting support for a new Pava Marie LaPere Act submitted by Delegate Elizabeth Embry to adjust legislation regarding diminution credits [or] early release credits [which can be found in] Section 3-702 of the Correctional Services Article,” she told Technical.ly.

The bill has the support of several Baltimore City Council members, according to Buonanno, who said that there’s work being done to gain support on the legislative side to ensure its success. The bill is one of over 30 being introduced as floor action today.

In part, the sample letter sent to lawmakers by tech community members reads:

“The man who killed Pava was a known repeat violent sexual offender, described by police as someone who ‘will rape’ and ‘will kill.’ The judge who sent him to prison also didn’t think his abbreviated sentence was long enough. Individuals like this should not be allowed the same access to the same benefits of the diminution program as other, less violent offenders.”

Asked about Billingsley’s upcoming trial in a previous interview with Technical.ly Pava’s father Frank LaPere said, “We will be engaged in that.”

This is a developing story and may be updated.