Current statistics and filling the gaps:
Q: How many Marylanders leave state prison each month to return to their hometowns and counties?
A: Approximately 340 per month (that is, 4091 per year)
(Average from DPSCS statistics for FY2019 Largest numbers from Balto.,Balto.Co. and Prince Georges, but some rural counties sentence Division of Corrections inmates far above their proportionate share of state population. )
Q: How many Marylanders leave local detention centers after serving sentences each month?
A: Maryland does not compile precise statistics on local detention center releases. However, the average number of local inmates in FY2019 serving over 90 days was 1,678.
(DPSCS statistics compiled from local jail reports)
Q: How many Maryland counties have a program to connect these returning citizens with “reentry services” to ease their transition to legal employment?
A: Only 7 out of 24 jurisdictions have plans for reentry collaboration with State prisons.
(See MAJR / Md. Correctional Administrators Association survey, published Jan.2018.)
Q: What are the odds of recidivism without reentry assistance & when does it usually happen?
(Recidivism defined as return to prison within 3 years-Md. taxpayer cost -$40,000 per inmate per year.)
A: 40.5% according to most recent Md. prison statistics. New arrests occur, most commonly, in the first 90 days after release — especially for high-risk offenders with no reentry assistance.
Q: What are the odds of recidivism with a good reentry program for transition to lawful employment?
Under 10% has been estimated by Mont.County Prerelease with successful completion of its program.
A: Maryland’s DPSCS is able to perform nationally-recognized LSI-R “risk-needs” assessments, identifying risk level and specific needs, of each inmate at intake. DOC and reentry programs could apply this valuable resource. But, why isn’t this implemented?
Q: Why doesn’t Maryland do more to promote state prison-to-hometown transitions?
A: Let’s talk about it!
