State Agencies

The staff of the Division of Correction plans,
establishes, and directs programs of administra-
tion for State correctional facilities. The institu-
tions carry on programs of classification, educa-
tion, vocational training, employment, substance
abuse counseling, psychological/psychiatric inter-
vention, security, and all necessary support ser-
vices for residential housing.

Chapter 695, Acts of 1967, provided that all
criminals sentenced after June 1, 1967, be com-
mitted to the Division of Correction, formerly the
Department of Correctional Services, and autho-
rized the Department to establish receiving and
classification centers for prisoners. On June 1,
1967, the Department established a Reception
Center at the Maryland Penitentiary for male in-
mates and a Reception Center at the Maryland
Correctional Institution for Women—Jessup, for
female inmates. After diagnostic evaluation and
classification, the inmate is assigned to one of the
institutions of the Division (Code 1957, Art. 27,
secs. 689 (g), 690, 691-700 (a), 701-702).

By Chapter 285, Acts of 1963, the Work Re-
lease Program was established (Code 1957, Art.
27, sec. 700A). Prisoners sentenced to an institu-
tion under the jurisdiction of the Division of Cor-
rection may leave actual confinement during nec-
essary and reasonable hours to work at gainful
employment in the community. They return to
the institution at the end of the work day. Chap-
ter 551, Acts of 1968, extended this privilege to
include attendance at school as part of a Work
Release Program. Under certain conditions, the
Commissioner of Correction may authorize spe-
cial leave for prisoners to seek employment or
participate in special community rehabilitation
programs. Weekend leaves also may be granted
under certain conditions by Chapters 448 and
449, Acts of 1969 (Code 1957, Art. 27, secs.
700A and 700C).

The institutions and pre-release units have well-
developed programs of employment. Inmates are
assigned to a wide variety of institutional mainte-
nance tasks, as well as to the diversified State Use
Industries Program. Opportunities for the devel-
opment and reactivation of useful and economi-
cally profitable occupational skills are available.
These programs also provide necessary goods and
services to the public agencies eligible to purchase
them. Several of the institutions operate laun-
dries, which serve both the institutions and other
State agencies and institutions.

Educational activities include academic instruc-
tion on both elementary and secondary school
levels, varied opportunities for advanced and spe-
cialized study (including programmed instruction
in the various pre-release facilities in preparation

Public Safety and Correctional Services/283

for obtaining high school equivalency certificates),
and programs of vocational and on-the-job train-
ing.

In 1976, the Educational Coordinating Council
for Correctional Institutions was created under
the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Safe-
ty and Correctional Services (Chapter 539, Acts
of 1976). The Commissioner of Correction is a
member of the Council. For administrative and
budgetary purposes, the Council is within the
State Department of Education. Taking into ac-
count the special needs and circumstances of the
inmates, the Council develops and recommends
educational programs for each correctional insti-
tution. Since 1978, funds for the operation of
these educational programs are provided in the
State budget for the State Department of Educa-
tion. The Department of Public Safety and Cor-
rectional Services and other State departments
may contribute to these programs as provided in
the State budget. The Director of Educational
Programs is appointed by the Secretary of Public
Safety and Correctional Services (Education Arti-
cle, secs. 22-101, 102).

Professional staffs render medical, psychiatric,
and psychological services in the institutions. The
institutions and pre-release units have complete
programs of religious activities, and supervised
recreational programs are conducted at all correc-
tional facilities.

Chapter 535, Acts of 1980 established the
Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards,
removing the function of jail programming and
inspection officer from the responsibility of the
Division of Correction and placing it with the
Correctional Standards Commission, which is an
agency of the Department of Public Safety and
Correctional Services.

Chapter 481, Acts of 1968, provides for the es-
tablishment of regional detention centers, which
are facilities operated by one or more counties for
the purpose of detention and confinement. Chap-
ter 540, Acts of 1968, included these regional de-
tention facilities as installations under the general
supervision of the Jail Programming and Inspec-
tion Officer (Code 1957, Art. 27, secs. 704-705).

In October 1971, the Governor authorized the
formation of a Community Corrections Task
Force within the Maryland Division of Correc-
tion. Its charge was to develop a Statewide Com-
munity Corrections program, emphasizing alter-
natives to incarceration as well as appropriate
classification and treatment of offenders through
community correctional centers, which would
cause the maximum utilization of community re-
sources.