Parole & Probation Agent Represents Public Safety at Schools in the Courts Program continued

Explaining everything to the students from the intake process when being assigned to probation by a judge, to the containment models used to supervise sex offenders and violence prevention offenders, Wallace hit on all the priorities of Parole and

Former NFL Linebacker Lavar Arrington expresses the importance of staying focused on your dreams to students in Anne Arundel County's Schools in the Courts program.

Probation supervision.  "I explained to the students that the things that I described shows how a person who is under

supervision has decisions made in their lives which they are no longer in control of," stated Wallace, hitting home the point of the program that committing a crime doesn't pay.  In addition, he wanted them to know their criminal history follows them throughout life even if they are only a juvenile at the time.

Wallace also invited Lavar Arrington, former NFL Redskins linebacker, to speak during his time slot.  Arrington expressed the importance of having a life plan, staying focused on your goals and not letting bad decisions get in the way of your dreams.

"The kids were very receptive to the speakers, they listened to everything," said Wallace.  "All of the participants presented public safety in a positive light and showcased ourselves as positive roles models in the community."   

Regional Victims' Services Events Wrap-Up continued

DPSCS has victim service units in all of our supervision divisions such as the Division Parole & Probation, the Maryland Parole Commission and the Division of Correction that help victims navigate the criminal justice system while holding their offender accountable. The state's Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, which provides compensation to victims for psychological and physical losses associated with crime, also falls under DPSCS.

See our facebook page for photos from the various regional events, a first for the Department.  Also see local news coverage from the Silver Spring event, Baltimore and Waldorf.  Salisbury and Hagerstown events were also well attended by local providers who learned more about victim services and the people who work to ensure victims are an important part of the criminal justice process.

Unusual Job, Extraordinary Inmate Works Projects continued

Such is life these days for Rowley, who, as Inmate Public Works Coordinator, seeks out meaningful projects for the Division of Correction's minimum-security pre-release inmates. His successes have been as varied as the Maryland geography itself: inmates have re-planted Antietam Battlefield's Piper Orchard, helped small towns bring back blighted neighborhoods and build ballfields; grown bay grasses and restored the depleted oyster population; planted a million trees in three years; and done countless other projects. During the last week in April, 417 inmates were spending their work hours at job sites like these.

"There's been a wide variety of interesting projects that I've had the pleasure to be involved in," says Rowley. "Inmates appreciate the opportunity to give back, to contribute to a society they've offended before but now feel more a part of."

"Everywhere I go," says DPSCS Secretary Gary Maynard, "I tell civic leaders, 'Show me your worst place, and we'll clean it up. Tell me what you want to get done, and we'll try to do it.'" This is where Rowley and his inmate works projects come in. And that's why on a beautiful day in late April, John Rowley was shaking hands with the ex-Marine who's committed to saving this little cemetery.  

DPSCS stands ready to assist non-profits and state and local government agencies with their projects. You may contact John Rowley at 301 729-7690.

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