BOX 3.
Domain 3: Racialized Criminalization in a Life-Saving Policy: Maryland, January–December 2019
| Hesitancy to engage with police: “People are still going to be hesitant. It’s still scary to call the cops. It’s a scary thing, especially if you’re on drugs. Your experience . . . and sadly, the experience with the cops around . . . is they’re just out to get you. They’re not there to help you. They’re out to get you. So, just calling the cops is just one thing you just never want to do here, no matter what.” Calvert, 33-y-old man, declined to report racial identification |
| Gaps between the law in its ideal form and the realities of practice based on broader perceptions and experiences of racism and policing: “But you really think that they won’t try to do nothing to you if you’re using too? And you help them [person overdosing]? . . . Man, these people will be trying to lock you up too. That’s the whole thing. You probably want to do right by somebody that’s out, but then there’s so many other things that are going to come with that . . . . Questions: ‘Was you with him?’ You know? . . . I’m not saying I wouldn’t trust it. I don’t know to be honest. . . . I mean I hate to see anybody fall short, you know? Nowadays, you’ve got to really watch yourself. To get involved in stuff like, that especially a person like me and where I come from. A young lady like yourself, they probably wouldn’t even question, but I don’t know. They probably think I gave it [the drugs] to them. I don’t trust the police at all. . . . You’ve got to watch yourself . . . when they stop you, you’ve got to be mindful of everything with these people today because they shoot you and everything.” 63-y-old Black man, Montgomery County |
| Perceptions of ramifications faced when calling 911 to save a life: “Yes, I got out of there and dialed 911 because that means they going to shake [search] the whole house. There was a lot of crack pipes and all kinds of stuff going on in that house. . . . I got out of there.” [Recounting conversation he had with 911 dispatcher]: “‘There’s a dead man in that house, okay? You go there.’ ‘Who are you?’ ‘Nobody. Don’t call me back. Okay? Go get him.’” 40-y-old Black man, Prince George’s County |
| Witnessing others flee their own overdose event for fear of criminalization: “Two days ago, a dude was standing up talking, and he put his hands on the fence, and all of a sudden he collapsed. And I knew then what it was. Called an ambulance, but he had come to by then [regained consciousness], and he hauled it [fled quickly]. I mean he left!” 66-y-old Black man, Prince George’s County |