State Agencies

makes recommendations with respect to applica-
tions for review of criminal sentences.

The Division makes the services of its staff
available to the Circuit Courts for the respective
counties, the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City,
the District Courts, the Parole Commission, the
Governor, and the parole and probation jurisdic-
tions of other states through the Out-of-State Pa-
rolee Supervision Act.

During the past five years the Division has
shown remarkable growth in its investigation and
supervision work load. It is now using a differen-
tiated casework approach geared to the treatment
and supervision needs of parolees and probation-
ers in the community. Services include referrals to
community substance abuse programs, which aid
those so addicted; the use of community service
work programs as viable alternatives to tradition-
al probation supervision; and administration of a
citizens' volunteer services program. Through
counseling, casework, special programs, and com-
munity resources, Parole and Probation agents
assist clients in their successful reentry into the
community. They place appropriate controls on
each client's conduct by effective and efficient su-
pervision practices in order to reduce further
criminal activity.

The Division maintains offices in the following
areas: Annapolis, Arbutus/Catonsville, Baltimore
City, Bel Air, Brentwood, Cambridge, Centreville,
Chestertown, College Park, Cumberland, Denton,
Dundalk, Easton, Elkton, Ellicott City,
Essex/Rosedale, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Glen
Burnie, Hagerstown, La Plata, Leonardtown,
Oakland, Prince Frederick, Princess Anne, Rock-
ville, Salisbury, Silver Spring, Snow Hill,
Suitland, Towson, Upper Marlboro, and West-
minster.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1982,
the Division supervised approximately 60,000 pa-
role and probation cases and conducted approxi-
mately 21,000 investigations of various types.

Effective January 1, 1979, approximately
80,000 domestic support cases were transferred to
the jurisdiction of the Department of Human Re-
sources (Code 1957, Art. 41, secs. 117A-131A).

MARYLAND PAROLE COMMISSION

Chairperson: William J. Kunkel, 1988

Marjorie A. Jennings, 1983; John W. Wolfgang,
1989; Jasper R. Clay, Jr., 1985; Harry J.
Traurig, 1986; Leronia A. Josey, 1987; one va-
cancy.

Public Safety and Correctional Services/291

Janet Q. Bacon, Administrator

One Investment Place
Suite 601
Towson 21204 Telephone: 321-3644

The Maryland Parole Commission was created
by Chapter 540, Acts of 1976, to replace the
Board of Parole. The previous board had been es-
tablished by Chapter 457, Acts of 1968, to re-
place the Board of Parole and Probation.

The Commission is composed of a chairperson
and six commissioners. All are appointed for six-
year terms by the Secretary of Public Safety and
Correctional Services with the approval of the
Governor and with the advice and consent of the
Senate. The Secretary of Public Safety and Cor-
rectional Services designates the chairperson.

The Commission uses hearing examiners to
hear certain cases for parole release. The Com-
mission itself has the exclusive power to hear cer-
tain serious cases for parole release and to con-
duct hearings for revocation of parole. The
jurisdiction of the Commission extends to persons
sentenced under the laws of this State to any pe-
nal or correctional institution, including local
jails and detention centers. It has the power to is-
sue warrants for the return to custody of alleged
violators of parole and to suspend or revoke pa-
role upon a showing of a violation of the condi-
tions thereof.

Decisions of its hearing examiners, if concurred
in by the Commission on summary review, be-
come final. A final decision of the hearing exam-
iner may be appealed to a panel of Commission
members for review upon the record. The deci-
sion of the appeal panel is final.

The Commission of its own initiative must re-
quest the Division of Parole and Probation to
make such investigation as may enable the Com-
mission to determine the advisability of granting
parole to persons sentenced for a term of 90 days
or more to the jurisdiction of the Division of
Correction, or to any other place of confinement
or detention of violators of State criminal laws,
whenever the prisoner shall have served one
fourth of the term or consecutive terms in con-
finement. The Commission evaluates information
on the activity of parolees as reported to it by the
Division of Parole and Probation. In addition, it
causes investigations to be made by the Division
of Parole and Probation for the purpose of mak-
ing recommendations to the Governor for his
granting of pardons, commutations of sentences,
and parole of persons sentenced to life imprison-
ment. The Commission is also authorized to ne-
gotiate and execute tri-party contracts for the re-
lease on parole of an inmate at a predetermined