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PRETRIAL RELEASE SERVICES
DIVISION
John R. Camou, Director
William H. Martin, Jr., Deputy Director
508 Mitchell Courthouse
100 N. Calvert St.
Baltimore, MD 21202 333-3833/4
Formerly under the Circuit Court for Baltimore
City; the Pretrial Release Services Division became
a unit of the Division of Parole and Probation in
1985 (Chapter 725, Acts of 1985). In 1988, the
Pretrial Release Services Division was established as
a separate division within the Department of Public
Safety and Correctional Services (Chapter 474,
Acts of 1988).
The Division screens all defendants awaiting
adjudication in criminal proceedings before the Bal-
timore City Circuit Court and the District Court of
Maryland for Baltimore City The Division then
provides the courts with verified information re-
garding the defendant's ties to the community and
special problems such as alcoholism, drug addic-
tion, or residential placement needs. The Division
also makes recommendations to the courts regard-
ing pretrial release or detention of defendants
awaiting adjudication.
Of some 46,000 defendants screened annually,
the Division supervises and monitors approxi-
mately 20,000 defendants for whom the court or-
ders pretrial release. At trial or in subsequent
proceedings, the Division reports to the court on
the defendant's compliance with the terms of pre-
trial release. These compliance reports are used for
sentencing decisions and, in some instances, plea
bargaining negotiations.
To minimize unnecessary incarceration, the Di-
vision develops alternative sanction plans, under
court supervision, and arbitrates or mediates dis-
putes when requested by the court. The Division,
under scrutiny of the courts, the State's Attorney,
and the Public Defender or private counsel, also
presents and defends alternatives to prosecution.
In addition, the Division reviews the status of
defendants in pretrial detention. These defendants
are incarcerated in the Baltimore City Jail. To man-
age the Jail's inmate capacity, the Division recom-
mends options to the court, such as scheduling
early trials; monitors writs, detainers, and violations
of court orders; and conducts further investigation
to determine the feasibility of recognizance or re-
duced bail for some defendants.
The Division's Director and Deputy Director are
appointed by the Secretary of Public Safety and
Correctional Services with the Governor's approval
and Senate advice and consent (Code 1957, Art.
41, sec. 4-1401).
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ADDITIONAL BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS
ADVISORY BOARD FOR
CORRECTION, PAROLE AND
PROBATION
Chairperson: Dr. Charles F. Wellford
Appointed by Secretary of Public Safety &
Correctional Services with Governor's approval:
William Boucher, 1988; Marianne Burt, 1988; Eli
M. Lippman, 1988; Roberta Roper, 1988; Owen
Wilson, 1988; Jack R. M. Pierce, 1989; Robert M.
Bell, 1990; Edna Goldberg, 1990; Yerby Holman;
Ruth Ann Hughes; Arthur H. Katz; one vacancy.
Ex officio: John J. O'Neill, Deputy Secretary of Public
Safety & Correctional Services; Fred E. Jordan, Jr.,
Commissioner of Correction; Paul J. Davis,
Chairperson, Maryland Parole Commission; Donald
Atkinson, Ed.D., Acting Director, Division of Parole
&Probation.
6776 Reisterstown Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21215 764-4003
The Advisory Board for Correction, Parole and
Probation was created in 1970 (Chapter 401, Acts
of 1970). It succeeded the Advisory Board for
Correction, formed in 1962, and the Advisory
Board for Parole and Probation, established in
1968. The Advisory Board for Correction, Parole
and Probation regularly reviews the operation of
the correction, parole, and probation systems in the
State, including current practices and procedures,
agency plans, and budgets. The Board advises the
Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Public Safety
and Correctional Services, the Commissioner of
Correction, the Chairperson of the Maryland Parole
Commission, and the Director of the Division of
Parole and Probation on issues and problems per-
taining to corrections, parole, and probation.
The Board consists of seventeen members. Thir-
teen are appointed by the Secretary of Public Safety
and Correctional Services with the approval of the
Governor for four-year terms. Four serve ex officio:
the Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Correc-
tional Services; the Commissioner of Correction;
the Chairperson of the Maryland Parole Commis-
sion; and the Director of the Division of Parole and
Probation. The Secretary of Public Safety and Cor-
rectional Services, with the approval of the Gover-
nor, designates the chairperson (Code 1957, Art.
41, sec. 4-107).
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