372/Maryland Manual

Not until the twentieth century did the State take on the public safety duties associated with the
Department today The Maryland State Police was organized in 1935 (Chapter 303, Acts of 1935) but
its role began in 1914 when the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles was authorized to employ Motorcycle
Deputies to patrol the highways. The Maryland Civil Defense Agency although not established until 1949,
was predated by the Maryland Council of Defense, which functioned after World War I and during World
War II (Chapter 24, Acts of Special Session 1917; Chapter 567, Acts of 1941; Chapter 602, Acts of 1943;
Chapter 563, Acts of 1949).

Today, the Department has statewide responsibility for controlling and reducing crime, maintaining
public order, controlling and rehabilitating adjudicated individuals who pose a threat to the public, and
coordinating emergency management in event of natural disaster.

Reporting directly to the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services are the Maryland State
Police, the State Fire Marshal, the Division of Correction, the Commission on Correctional Standards, the
Handgun Permit Board, and the Handgun Roster Board. The office of the Secretary also oversees several
advisory boards, including the Emergency Number Systems Board; Criminal Injuries Compensation
Board; Explosives Advisory Council; Advisory Board for Correction, Parole and Probation; Inmate
Grievance Commission; and Sundry Claims Board.

The Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services is assisted by the Deputy Secretary and the
Assistant Secretary The Deputy Secretary is responsible for the State Emergency Management and Civil
Defense Agency; Police and Correctional Training Commissions; Patuxent Institution; Division of Parole
and Probation; and Pretrial Release Services Division. The Assistant Secretary oversees five divisions:
Research and Statistics; Personnel Services; Finance; Data Services; and Audit and Compliance.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent, the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services directs and coordinates De- partment law enforcement and correctional pro- grams. The Maryland State Police and Division of Correction report directly to the Secretary. COMMISSION ON CORRECTIONAL STANDARDS Chairperson: Marie C. Henderson, 1989 Appointed by Governor with Senate advice & consent: Florence C. Welch, 1989; JohnN. Brown, 1990; Elmanus Herndon, 1990; Sterling E. Bollinger, Sr., 1991; Mark A. Levine, 1991; Jeffrey Washington, 1991; one vacancy. Ex officio: J. Joseph Curran, Jr., Attorney General; Earl F. Seboda, Secretary of General Services; Charles L. Benton, Jr., Secretary of Budget & Fiscal Planning. Paul S. Hastmann, Executive Director 6776 Reisterstown Rd., Suite 303 Baltimore, MD 21215 764-4265 The Commission on Correctional Standards was formed in 1980 to improve standards for correc- tional facilities and programs and to ensure compliance with standards for the public health, safety, and welfare (Chapter 535, Acts of 1980). The Commission advises the Secretary on standards for State and local correctional facilities; provides technical assistance to jurisdictions; audits facilities

to determine compliance with correctional stan- dards; and determines schedules for remedial action of jurisdictions in noncompliance with standards. After a public hearing, the Commission may order the closing of a correctional facility determined to be in noncompliance with established standards. The Commission also reviews and acts on appeals of staff audit reports. To make State and national standards compati- ble, the Commission consults and coordinates with national agencies promulgating correctional stan- dards. The Commission also may consult and coop- erate with other State agencies and local jurisdictions on correctional standards and may es- tablish advisory boards. The Commission is comprised of eleven mem- bers. Eight are appointed for three-year terms by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. They include two Maryland citizens not directly em- ployed in the field of corrections, one official or employee of the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections or a similar national correctional ac- creditation organization, one local elected official, two State government correctional personnel, and two local government correctional personnel. Three members serve ex officio: the Attorney Gen- eral, the Secretary of General Services, and the Secretary of Budget and Fiscal Planning. With the approval of the Secretary of Public Safety and Cor- rectional Services, the Commission appoints the Executive Director (Code 1957, Art. 41. sec. 4- 401).