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 Sharing Our Stake in Maryland's Public Safety | July 2013 |
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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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:
The Daily Times-Online 7/4/2013
Gary D. Maynard: Maryland's recidivism rate is improving substantially
WHAG-TV 7/16/2013
The Gazette-Online 7/22/2013
New community center offering inmate video visitation
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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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 | | Inmates are training America's Vet Dogs into service dogs for wounded U.S. Veterans. See More photos on
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This Month's Featured Stories:
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 | keeping communities safe |
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DPSCS Spotlights PCTC Correctional Officer Training
DPSCS continues its commitment to turn out a better-prepared, more professional officer by expanding and strengthening its Correctional Entrance Level Training Program. A project spearheaded by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions (PCTC), the "new" training academy focuses on better ethics, physical training, and integrity issues. Recruits now go for seven weeks, and receive much more intensive physical training, as well as more detailed classwork focusing on inmate manipulation and related issues.
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 | believing in human capital |
Camp Hope brings children closer to their incarcerated fathers
On Wednesday, June 12, the White House honored Carol Fennelly, founder of Hope House, as a "Champion of Change." She has devoted herself to supporting children of incarcerated parents and their caregivers. Carol Fennelly has assisted scores of children and their families by minimizing the potential negative impacts of having a parent who is incarcerated, including financial instability, changes in housing, and isolation due to stigma. Camp Hope, a weeklong camp facilitated by Hope House, held at North Branch Correctional Institution (NBCI) in Cumberland, Maryland, allows children to spend time with their incarcerated fathers.
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 | public safety works |
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Inmates at the Southern Maryland Pre-release Unit are lending a critical hand in an impressive new hunger-fighting effort. It's called Farming for Hunger, and it benefits not only the southernmost Maryland counties, but the Capital Area Food Bank as well.
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With the most recent example of Correctional Training Unit (CTU) class 13-15 PCTC continues to uphold the Maryland standard of training correctional officers and Maryland State Police.
The mission of the PCTC is to ensure the quality of law enforcement and correctional services through the establishment and enforcement of standards and the facilitation and delivery of training, education and prevention programs. Its value derives from providing our customers with quality service, enhanced partnerships, problem-solving strategies and the support necessary for the prevention of crime and reduction of fear of crime.
Since 1971 the Commissions have fostered and maintained ethics and integrity, encouraged continuous learning, and have treated everyone with dignity and respect, qualities exhibited in our most recent graduates. |
NBCI was the first state facility, and the first maximum-security facility, to host Camp Hope. Inmates who participate in Camp Hope are carefully screened and must meet stringent criteria, including remaining infraction-free for an entire year. Those inmates selected for Camp Hope go through parenting classes, as Division of Correction programming utilizes the power of family as a restorative tool. During the week-long program, the children will meet with their fathers daily for arts and crafts, lunch and other camp activities. Sexual offenders are not allowed to participate. The children stay at a local campground for the week, augmenting their experience. The inmates continue in classes through the Social Work department after the week-long program is completed.
"People may rightfully have bad feelings about the men here and whatever they have done to harm the community from where they come. But these kids didn't do anything wrong. And it is hard growing up without a dad. These kids experience loss the same way any child would through death or the military, divorce or whatever. For these kids to have the opportunity to spend time with their dads is so important," says Fennelly. Through Hope House's Father to Child Programs such as Camp Hope, thousands of fathers have been able to play an important role in the lives of their children, even from behind bars.
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Seeing so many folks in his community struggling in the economic downturn-and with his own home-building business slowing considerably--businessman Bernie Fowler Jr. shifted his focus to helping folks through farming.
This summer, four to eight low-security inmates who are about to be released, mainly to Prince George's County and southern Maryland, are working the fields and warehouse. They weed, harvest, and package produce for distribution to those in need through the Food Bank.
Mr. Fowler has been most pleased with the inmate help, and the inmates are happy to pay society back.
Farming for Hunger is a perfect example of restorative justice: letting inmates who are trying to change pay society back in meaningful ways. These programs, which are under the Department's Public Safety Works umbrella, benefit everyone involved.
To find out if your non-profit or municipal or county agency can benefit from Public Safety Works, call John Rowley at (301)573-7175.
DPSCS salutes Mr. Fowler and his many helpers for their tremendous effort to fight hunger in southern Maryland.
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