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 Sharing Our Stake in Maryland's Public Safety | June 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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In case you missed the first edition of the Public Safety Stakeholder, editions will now be archived on the DPSCS website!
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Did You See Us
In The News?
Recent sitings of our public safety efforts in your local media are updated daily on the DPSCS homepage
Recent headlines:
Maryland Reporter 6/13/10
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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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NEW: Parole & Probation Most Wanted Website | |
 | keeping communities safe |
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DPSCS Launches Most Wanted Parole & Probation Website The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), recently launched an innovative crime fighting tool that asks the public for assistance in locating 25 of Maryland's Most Wanted Parole and Probation Violators. Read our June 7th press release. |
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Contraband Cell Phone Cases Get Boost In Recent Months In an effort to enhance our recent cell phone interdiction efforts within Maryland correctional facilities, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) has intensified our focus on prosecution of cases against inmates and staff found with the illegal devices. Our Internal Investigative Unit (IIU), starting in November of 2009, began working more closely with local State's Attorneys to not only better prepare for these cases, but to communicate with them the importance of making cell phone prosecution a priority. Continued here |
 | believing in human capital |
| Maryland Community Services Locator (MDSCL) Integrates Tools to Promote Public Safety
The Maryland Community Services Locator website www.mdcsl.org is a statewide interactive online directory developed to assist professionals and community members in locating community services, including criminal justice, health and social service programs. As a partner of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), the MDCSL has worked closely with our staff over the years to expand and promote access to this valuable resource. Continued here |
 | public safety works |
Inmate Work Crews Contribute to Public Safety In Salisbury Through Safe Streets Clean-up
A crew from the Poplar Hill Pre-Release Unit on Maryland's Eastern Shore recently began working with the Mayor's Office in Salisbury to provide inmate labor. The crew of six workers has helped the city remove trash from railways and, working under the Salisbury Safe Streets initiative, cleared debris from allyways that were blocking police access when attempting to apprehend suspects. Continued here |
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Contraband Cell Phone Cases Get Boost In Recent Months continuted
Since that time, through June 1, DPSCS has initiated a total of 92 investigations of inmates and/or staff found in possession of an illegal cell phone. For IIU to investigate a cell phone violation, the phone must be found on the suspect. Special concentration in the Baltimore Metro region, which includes Baltimore City and Jessup, has resulted in 77 of the department-wide cases falling into this area. A criminal investigator was hired in Fall 2009 to specifically deal with cell phone cases in the Baltimore Metro region.
Our most prevalent area for cell phone finds is in Baltimore City institutions, from which 65 cases originated.
In addition to the facts of the case, IIU identifies other key elements about the defendant such as gang related activity and connection to other criminal activity to assist a prosecutor with moving forward and prioritizing cases for prosecution. In March of this year the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office provided training to DPSCS correctional officers to foster effective investigations. Since the Department has taken this pro-active approach and opened lines of communication, there have been no cases declined by any of the prosecuting agencies.
With more focus on getting these cases to court, charging documents have been requested by IIU and issued by the courts in all cases state-wide that are not currently open investigations. While only 11 cases have been adjudicated at this time, 82% of those resulted in guilty dispositions and one was nolle prossed as part of a plea agreement to other charges. Better background, evidence and preparation give the State's Attorneys a solid basis for their cases, thus improving the chances of a successful verdict from the courts.
In addition to better prosecution of cases, the Department is also currently in the process of procuring a cell phone forensics lab. Such a lab would give DPSCS staff the ability to not only extract, but to analyze data gleaned from confiscated cell phones. This intelligence can be valuable to disciplinary and prosecutorial actions.
The sale and trade of cell phones and other contraband is a root cause of violence within DPSCS institutions. Cell phones also have the added danger of keeping offenders connected with their former life of crime on the streets. Possession of a contraband cell phone within a correctional institution is a misdemeanor crime, punishable under Maryland law by up to three years confinement and/or a fine not exceeding $1,000. By tracking the results of our prosecution efforts and focusing on making successful cases, the Department is taking the next step in our efforts to remove cell phones from our institutions. Return to story intro |
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Maryland Community Services Locator Integrates Tools To Promote Enhanced Public Safety continuted
Both the Division of Correction (DOC) and the Division of Parole and Probation (DPP) work with MDCSL to ensure that our case managers and agents receive training in use of the online tool. Employment, housing, education and drug treatment are key factors in successful reentry. By proactively referring offenders to these needed resources in the community, DPSCS staff contributes to the decreased likelihood of this population returning to their former life of crime. All of these services, as well as Victim Service resources, are accessible through the MDCSL database.
In previous years DOC assisted MDCSL staff in building the housing program database so that it could be used as a tool for placing ex-offenders in stable housing following their release from correctional facilities. These collaborations have continued, with the MDCSL most recently providing data to DPP to assist them in identifying existing community resources that serve ex-offenders.
The MDCSL allows users to get organizational contact information and other details, map resources by location, and get instant directions to local programs. Since its launch, this website has expanded to include approximately 9,000 services and programs that are periodically verified for accuracy by MDCSL staff.
The MDCSL website is featured on the DPSCS homepage, in our Community Partners sidebar. They can also be reached at mdcsl@cesar.umd.edu, phone (301-405-9796), or visit their website. The MDCSL is funded by the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention under grant number BJAG-2008-1365. Return to story intro |
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Inmate Work Crews Contribute To Public Safety in Salisbury Through Safe Streets Clean-up continued
Crews have cleaned up several areas around the back of buildings, alleyways and streets that were overgrown, strewn with trash and littered with debris. Some of the streets actually had sidewalks that could no longer be walked on due to overhanging limbs and brush that had grown across them.
Community projects such as the Salisbury Safe Streets clean-up are happening all over Maryland as part of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services' (DPSCS) Public Safety Works initiative. Earlier this spring the town of Williamsport in Western Maryland acknowledged the Department for helping with various job around town, including maintenance to their Town Hall. Cities are taking note of the shared benefit of this program, allowing offenders to gain jobs skills while also performing tasks that might otherwise not be allotted for in government budgets.
Representatives from the various city agencies in Salisbury that the crews have worked with have been appreciative of the services. To date the crews have taken nearly 36 dump truck loads of trash to the landfill.
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