Ch. 425

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

[(9)] (K) A "correctional administrator" means a correctional officer who
has been promoted from a supervisory rank to first line administrative duties.

4-302.

(A) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEREBY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT A NEED
FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM
EXISTS IN ORDER TO BETTER PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF
MARYLAND CITIZENS; THAT THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM
IS TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFER BY REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME;
THAT ESTABLISHING A SYSTEM WITH SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED POWER TO
REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND PREVENT RECRUITMENT INTO CRIMINAL CAREERS WILL
REQUIRE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF QUALIFIED STAFF TO PERFORM THE MANY
TASKS TO BE DONE; THAT RECENT STUDIES HAVE REVEALED THAT GREATER
TRAINING PREPARATION FOR CORRECTIONAL WORK WOULD BE HIGHLY
DESIRABLE; THAT THIS NEED CAN BE SUBSTANTIALLY MET BY THE CREATION OF
EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PERSONS WHO SEEK CAREERS AS
CORRECTIONAL, PROBATION, AND PAROLE OFFICERS, THAT SUCH PERSONS
SHOULD BE REQUIRED, WHILE SERVING IN A PROBATIONARY CAPACITY PRIOR TO
PERMANENT APPOINTMENT, TO RECEIVE EFFICIENT TRAINING PROVIDED AT
FACILITIES APPROVED BY A COMMISSION CREATED FOR SUCH PURPOSE; THAT BY
QUALIFYING AND BECOMING PROFICIENT IN THE FIELD OF CORRECTIONS, SUCH
PERSONS SHALL INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY BETTER ENSURE THE HEALTH,
SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE.

[(c)] (B) There is hereby established in the Department of Public Safety and
Correctional Services of the State of Maryland, a Correctional Training Commission
whose membership shall consist of the following 12 persons:

The Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services; the
Director of the Division of Parole and Probation; the Commissioner of Correction; the
president of the Maryland Correctional Administrators Association; the president of the
Maryland Sheriffs Association; the president of the Maryland Criminal Justice
Association; a representative of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to be designated by its
Director; the Attorney-General of the State; the president of one university or college
within the State which has a correctional education curriculum, to be appointed by the
Maryland Higher Education Commission, and three correctional, parole or probation
officers or officials of the State to be appointed by the Secretary of Public Safety and
Correctional Services, with the approval of the Governor, to represent different
geographic areas of the State, the appointments to be made to three-year terms provided
that, for the initial term, one official shall be appointed for a term of one year, one for a
term of two years, and one for a term of three years.

(2) The Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services or the
Deputy Secretary's representative shall be the chairman of the Commission.

(3) Each Commission member, except the three persons appointed by the
Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services may serve personally at any or all

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