The institutions and pre-release units have pro-
grams of employment. Inmates are assigned to a
wide variety of institutional maintenance tasks, as
well as to the diversified State Use Industries Pro-
gram. Opportunities for the development and re-
activation of useful and economically profitable
occupational skills are available. These programs
also provide necessary goods and services to the
public agencies eligible to purchase them. Several
institutions operate laundries which serve both the
institutions and other State facilities.

The Work Release Program was established in
1963 (Chapter 285, Acts of 1963). Prisoners sen-
tenced to an institution under the jurisdiction of
the Division of Correction may leave actual con-
finement during necessary and reasonable hours to
work at gainful employment in the community.
They return to the institution at the end of the
work day. In 1968, this privilege was extended to
include attendance at school as part of a Work
Release Program (Chapter 551, Acts of 1968).
Under certain conditions, the Commissioner of
Correction may authorize special leave for prison-
ers to seek employment or participate in special
community rehabilitation programs. Weekend
leaves also may be granted under certain condi-
tions (Code 1957, Art. 27, sees. 700A, 700C).

The institutions provide educational activities
including academic instruction on both elementa-
ry and secondary school levels, varied opportuni-
ties for advanced and specialized study, and voca-
tional and on-the-job training programs. Pre-
release facilities offer instruction that prepares in-
mates to obtain high school equivalency certifi-
cates.

Chapter 535, Acts of 1980, provided that a
county or counties deciding to build or maintain a
regional detention center may apply to the Com-
missioner of Correction for financial aid to con-
struct or enlarge the facility. When the Commis-
sioner approves county construction plans, the
State pays part of the costs. The Commissioner,
when he approves plans which require financial
assistance, enters into written agreement with the
county or counties involved setting forth the
rights, powers, duties and responsibilities of all
parties. A convicted offender may be sentenced to
a regional detention center, if the sentence is for
period of not more than 18 months.

Community Correctional Centers were estab-
lished in 1972 (Chapter 464, Acts of 1972). Chap-
ter 234, Acts of 1976, renamed them Community
Adult Rehabilitation Centers (CARC). By this
Act, the Secretary of Public Safety and Correc-
tional Services, with the assistance and advice of

the Commissioner, evaluates and determines the
need for one or more community adult rehabilita-
tion centers in each county or multi-county region
of the State. In July 1978, the community adult
rehabilitation centers were placed under the Cor-
rectional Pre-Release System as pre-release units.

When the Secretary of Public Safety and Cor-
rectional Services establishes the need for a Com-
munity Adult Rehabilitation Center, the State
pays costs associated with starting the Center
(Chapter 534, Acts of 1980). These costs are de-
termined by agreement between the Secretary and
the jurisdiction where the Center is to be located.
The Secretary, with the advice of the Commission
on Correctional Standards, sets minimum stan-
dards for the Centers.

RECEPTION, DIAGNOSTIC AND
CLASSIFICATION CENTER

Merry L. Coplin, Warden

550 E. Madison St.
Baltimore 21202 Telephone: 332-0970

The Reception, Diagnostic and Classification
Center for male inmates was established in 1967
(Chapter 695, Acts of 1967). Inmates at the
Center are diagnostically evaluated, classified, and
assigned to an institution of the Division of Cor-
rection. The Center has a rated capacity of 400 in-
mates (Code 1957, Art. 27, sees. 689(g)-700(a)).

MARYLAND PENITENTIARY

Howard N. Lyics, Warden

954 Forrest St.
Baltimore 21202 Telephone: 837-2135

The Maryland Penitentiary is a maximum secu-
rity institution for the confinement of long-term
prisoners. Authorized by Resolution no. 32, Acts
of 1804, and opened in 1811, the Penitentiary was
the second institution of its kind established in the
United States. It is Maryland's oldest State prison.
In 1829, buildings containing workshops were
constructed, thereby permitting the establishment
of industrial activities. In 1845, an educational
program was introduced with the prison's chap-
lains teaching the inmates.

Over the years a great deal of construction and
demolition has taken place. The most recent addi-
tions were made in 1956 when the old administra-
tion building and one of the original cell houses
were razed to provide a site for a sixty-bed general