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 Sharing Our Stake in Maryland's Public Safety | November 2010 |
The Public Safety Stakeholder
 An E-publication of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
for our Criminal Justice and Community Partners
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Providing tips about parole and probation violators found on our Most Wanted Website just got easier. Citizens can now simply email or text known information about the whereabouts of these offenders! |
Did You See Us
In The News?
Recent sightings of our public safety efforts in your local media are updated daily on the DPSCS homepage
Recent headlines:
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DPSCS' mission is to protect the public, our employees and those under our supervision.
 Governor Martin O'Malley Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown
DPSCS Secretary Gary D. Maynard
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 | | Maryland Correctional Enterprises continued its tradition of helping the Bea Gaddy Foundation in Baltimore feed thousands of homeless men and women a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving. |
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This Month's Featured Stories:
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 | keeping communities safe |
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Maryland's Criminal Injuries Compensation Board Has a New Look - On the Surface and Internally
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB), a division of DPSCS, underwent some major changes during 2010 to improve their victim service efforts in Maryland. CICB uses offender court fees, restitution, and state and federal funds to compensate victims of crime for the physical and psychological losses associated with crime.
Following a Kaizen this past February, a process that takes an in-depth look at a function and helps it "change for the better," the CICB staff revamped everything from the proficiency with which the claims are processed to the physical appearance of the office. The changes were a group effort, with both internal and external stakeholders taking part.
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 | believing in human capital |
A Thanksgiving Tradition Continues, Thanks to Inmates Giving Back
Thousands of Baltimoreans who cannot put dinner on the table themselves will enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner this year, in part because of Division of Correction inmates. Shady Brook Farms on November 5 delivered 350 turkeys to the Maryland Correctional Enterprises (MCE) Meat Plant in Hagerstown.
While Shady Brook donated the turkeys, the Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown inmates employed at the plant spent 12 hours - two full workdays - de-boning and processing the meat. The time and labor was donated by MCE, at no cost to the Baltimore-based Bea Gaddy non-profit organization.
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 | public safety works |
Circle of Restorative Justice and DPSCS
The Circle of Restorative Justice Initiatives for Maryland held their 3rd Annual Restorative Justice Conference November 18-19 at Howard Community College. The event featured many of Maryland's government, non-profit and advocacy organizations who are using Restorative Justice as part of their role in the criminal justice system. DPSCS was among the presenters, talking about the benefits of our Public Safety Works (PSW) program which give offenders the opportunity to give back to the society they victimized before release.
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Maryland's Criminal Injuries Compensation Board Has a New Look continued
The 20 member Kaizen team addressed inconsistencies in the current handling, reviewing, investigating and processing of victim claims. They also developed consistent and objective processes as it related to victims and their families. As a result, the team was able to enhance communication and build collaborative relationships with not only the victims they serve, but the stakeholders who took part in the change process.
 The changes are already making a difference. On November 17 Cortney Fisher, Esq., the new Director of CICB, welcomed staff and stakeholders to an open house in their newly renovated waiting room - a recommendation that came out of the Kaizen which helps improve first impressions for victims and customers who visit the Board. In terms of process improvement, the change is being seen in the numbers. Since the start of FY11, CICB has denied only 11 claims, a number which falls far below the average of 1 in 2 claims that were being denied previously. Return of claims for misinformation has been virtually eliminated. In 6 months, and without any additional staff, the CICB claims examination team decreased the average claims processing time from 187 days to 142 days. CICB has also tripled its revenue recovery efforts, increasing the amount of money that they have recovered from offenders. The Board also established a victim services team to enhance the claims examination process. Led by Nikki Charles, the victim services team will be adding an additional three positions before the beginning of the year. Since July 1, the victim services team has provided direct service to over 400 victims. 
CICB has also become an active participant in community events with our community partners, including the Maryland State Board of Victim Services, the Maryland Anti-Trafficking Task Force and the planning committee of the Baltimore Family Justice Center. CICB participated in all four Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention-sponsored Town Hall events in the summer and fall of 2010.
Change for the better accurately describes the new and improved CICB. With a facelift both on the surface and internally they are reaching more victims in a more effective manner.
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A Thanksgiving Tradition Continues, Thanks to Inmates Giving Back continued
The Friday before Thanksgiving, MCE delivered the turkeys to the Bea Gaddy Family Center. The meat, along with all the traditional Thanksgiving sides, will be served during the Center's 29th annual Thanksgiving dinner. Some estimates show that 50,000 meals are served during the "Bea Gaddy's Thanks for Giving Dinner." Volunteers also deliver meals to those who cannot leave their homes.
The late Baltimore City Councilwoman Bea Gaddy began the dinner tradition in 1981.
A self-supporting entity, MCE routinely employs more than 2,000 inmates and had sales last year of more than $52 million. Offenders who work for MCE gain job skills and work ethics to improve employability upon release - a key factor in reducing recidivism. Studies have shown that offenders with at least one year of experience in MCE are half as likely to return to prison when compared to general population offenders.
MCE, the prison industry arm of the Division of Correction, has donated its time to process meat for the dinner for at least 15 years, MCE officials said. Projects like the Bea Gaddy turkey preparation give MCE offenders a chance to give back to the society they victimized. |
Circle of Restorative Justice and DPSCS continued
Secretary Gary D. Maynard, along with Division of Correction Inmate Public Works Coordinator John Rowley, overviewed some of the the nearly 100 past, current and future projects DPSCS has been involved with since starting this program in 2008. From rescuing and caring for retired thoroughbred racehorses, to constructing houses with Habitat for Humanity, to contributing to the sustainability of Maryland's natural resources through oyster repopulation and tree planting, DPSCS is always looking for opportunities to give inmates meaningful work skills as they near their release.
Restorative justice is the ultimate goal of the DPSCS Public Safety Works (PSW) program. For the majority of Maryland's offender population, participation on a PSW crew is their first chance to do something positive in their communities. These projects help develop basic everyday skills needed to be an effective employee that most people take for granted; like the need to respect a supervisor or learning how to be part of a team. Teaching these soft skills gives an inmate better chances of succeeding upon release, rather than creating more victims. Because these lessons are learned out in the community, PSW can also breakdown public stereotypes about ex-offenders, showing that offenders can make up for past wrongs committed. An offender doing something positive for their community can feel a sense of pride, like they belong to that community and thus are less apt to want to harm it. It also shows them, prior to going out on their own, that they have what it takes to work a regular job. |
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