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 Sharing Our Stake in Maryland's Public Safety | December 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 Washington Post Online 12/3/2013
Selective Goucher College brings liberal arts into Maryland prisons
Big News Network 12/5/2013
Reducing recidivism in Maryland
My World News 12./6/2013
Maryland Correctional Enterprises Works to Keep Inmates From Returning to Jail
Carroll County Times 12/9/2013
Horses bred for greatness inspire new lives for offenders
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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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 | Second Chances Farm program coordinator Judi Coyne gets festive with one of the thoroughbreds at the retirement farm's open house. Find these pictures and more on our Facebook page.
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This Month's Featured Stories:
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 | keeping communities safe |
DPSCS Community Supervision Program Successful in Keeping Drunk Drivers off the Roads
A Department of Public Safety and Correctional Service program is making a difference, keeping drunk and drugged drivers from reoffending. The Drinking Driver Monitoring Program (DDMP), part of DPSCS Community Supervision, has a unique tool that takes enforcement of offender's one step further. DDMP focuses strictly on monitoring offenders that have been placed on pretrial supervision or probation for drugs and/or drinking related offenses. Of the average 12,000 Marylanders that are court mandated to DDMP every year, less are reoffending while under supervision than they did 3 year years ago. Only 3.5% of participants are removed from the program because of another violation. The number of those dropped from the program because of a re-offense fell about 1% over the past year.
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 | believing in human capital |
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Correctional Officers Spread Holiday Benevolence from Mountains to Shore
DPSCS employees across Maryland worked to make the holidays a little brighter for families that have fallen on hard times.
Employees at Roxbury Correctional Institution "adopted" children in need for their Angel Tree program. Across the road at Maryland Correctional Training Center, a correctional officer traded his uniform for a Santa suit, as his coworkers joined him at a shelter in Hagerstown, where families received toys and gifts donated by correctional staff.
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 | public safety works |
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Participants are required to attend regular one on one meetings with an assigned Monitor, They are subject to random urinalysis, breathalyzer and treatment to ensure participants are not using drugs or alcohol. Education plays a big part as well. Participants are required to visit trauma centers to see the devastating effects of driving under the influence.
According to Sharon D. Garrett, who is a supervisor for the program: "It's an effective way to deal with the problems associated with offenders who operate motor vehicles while their ability is impaired by alcohol. Monitoring these offenders ensures the roads, highways, and communities are safe."
In the State of Maryland, driving while impaired could cost upwards of $10,000. A portion of that cost, about $540/year is what court ordered DDMP participants are required to pay to keep the self-supporting program funded.
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The Chesapeake Detention Facility in Baltimore once again treated several needy families to hot lunch buffet and a room full of gifts donated by employees.
And across Madison Street, staff at the Metropolitan Transition Center held their annual Breakfast With Santa, featuring hot food, gifts, and Santa, at Saints James and John Elementary, which is surrounded by seven correctional facilities.
Cumberland facilities made major donations to local charities, as did ECI and many Community Supervision offices.
DPSCS employees always make a difference because they believe in the value of human capital.
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Recently, thanks to some additions, more inmates will get the same chances as Atkins. Since May of 2009, inmates at Central Maryland Correctional Facility have been feeding, grooming and tending to the overall health of several retired Thoroughbred Horses through a partnership between DPSCS and Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). The program is one of a handful across the United States in which inmates to tend horses that might eventually be sent to slaughter and training those same inmates to become "Elite Grooms". They learn overall equine care and other soft skills.
Over the past year, under the new management of Judi Coyne, the program has made some significant growth, further enhancing the Departments Public Safety Works restorative Justice efforts. The program recently received Job Skills Training Program (JSTP) certification from the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation and added opportunities to give inmate participants the chance to practice real life job skills.
Two more horses were added to the program this year making a total of six horses for the 8 inmate participants to use learned skills. Second Chances now has 6 new local volunteers who assist in weekend horse care needs like feeding and well checks. State and community partners have also eased the burden by donating over 1,000 bales of hay and study books for program participants.
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