TopofemailSharing Our Stake in Maryland's Public SafetyJanuary 2011
        The Public Safety Stakeholder
 
all iconsAn E-publication of the 
Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services 
for our Criminal Justice and Community Partners 
Upcoming Victims' Services Events
 
Join us April 10-16, 2011 during National Crime Victims Rights' Week for regional Open Houses to learn more about the role of victim services in the many criminal justice agencies, offices and boards under our supervision.  Look for times and location in the next edition of Stakeholder!
 
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: 


Eldersburg Patch 1/18/11
Community Presentations

Is your community organization looking for a speaker?
 
Would your members be interested in hearing about the current public safety initiatives going on right in their own backyards?

Contact the DPSCS Communications Office to schedule a presentation:
 410-339-5010

 DPSCS' mission is to protect the public, our employees and those under our supervision.

Seal
Governor Martin O'Malley
 Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown
 DPSCS Secretary Gary D. Maynard


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Expanding partnership with Habitat for Humanity
is building futures for offenders and homeowners

This Month's Featured Stories:

Gavel  keeping communities safe 

KCStop2January is National Stalking Awareness Month 


Interested in learning about Stalking awareness and prevention?  This Friday, January 28th from 1-3pm the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, on behalf of DPSCS, will be hosting a community awareness event for interested citizens, victim advocates and law enforcement partners.  Stalking affects millions of victims every year in the US but its seriousness is often underestimated.  Learn more here and join us at 6776 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215 in the Centralized Hiring Room (1st floor).  
Human Capital  believing in human capital
topbhcstoryCollege Degree Program Celebrates Success 
MCIW college certificate
Division of Correction staff and volunteers alike took some time January 5 to celebrate the academic achievements and pursuits of college student at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women (MCIW) in Jessup, MD.


The women are enrolled in classes through Anne Arundel Community College with the ability to earn an Associate degree.  Funding for the program is provided by the MCIW College Degree Program, Inc. - founded by longtime MCIW volunteer Judge Brenda Murray.  It is also offered to correctional staff at the institution.


 Continued here

PSW  public safety works
toppswBuilding Houses, Building Futures 
 
Most people who traverse the road of Maryland are familiar with the highly visible Division of Correction (DOC) inmate road crews that keep our highways clean on a regular basis in partnership with the State Highway Administration.  The DPSCS Public Safety Works restorative justice program provides similar crews to government and non-profit organizations to assist with tasks that might not otherwise be accomplished. 

 

This initiative provides inmates with skills and experiences that enhance their ability to give back to the community, be an effective employee and a positive participant in society upon release.   One such program is a partnership with Maryland's Habitat for Humanity (HFH) affiliates.

 

Continued here
 

bhccontCollege Degree Program Celebrates Success continued

Warden Carroll Parrish emphasized the need to recognize positive achievement. "The goal of rehabilitation is to increase the  incident of the right type of behavior in people," he said. "We recognize their wrongs in life but should also recognize the good."  At the time of the celebration, more than 70 women were enrolled in the college level courses.

Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Gary D. Maynard attended the event, as did, Maryland Parole Commission Chair David Blumberg, several federal and state women judges and local legislators.

U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin wrote the offenders a letter, a copy of which was rolled up, bound with ribbon and MCIW college crowddistributed to each woman. "You are overcoming obstacles that many have found too overwhelming to overcome. You are acquiring the skills and confidence to move forward with your life," the letter read in part.

The women earning college credits will be leaving prison better than they entered it, Parrish said.

 


pswcontBuilding Houses, Building Futures continued

In Caroline County a full-time inmate crew builds homes for an HFH affiliate.  They are currently completing a track of nine homes.  The inmates, who have often received vocational training inside the facility, work with a contracted HFH construction Habitat workers inside housesupervisor.  Upon release, inmates are able to provide potential employers with a resume that reflects relevant training and experiences in the building industry - giving them a greater chance at finding meaningful employment.  

The DOC's Maryland Correctional Enterprises (MCE) and the Maryland HFH are currently working on the concept of building energy efficient "green" homes on institutional grounds.  This allows inmates with sentences that prevent them from working in the community, but who have vocational training, to be utilized.  Once the houses are built, low security inmates would assemble the houses on site.  This would allow the HFH affiliates the ability to increase the number of homes they can provide on an annual basis to families in need of affordable home ownership.  A unique partnership that could build better futures for all involved.