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New legislation combats gangs, contraband and corruption

DPSCS MARYLAND

 

TOWSON, MD — As part of its continuing commitment to improving safety and security Maryland’s correctional facilities by combating gangs, eliminating contraband, and rooting out corruption, the O’Malley-Brown Administration and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services worked to pass the following bills, which go into effect today, Oct. 1, 2014:

Departmental Bills

SB114/HB174 – Internal Investigative Unit – Name Change and Duties – Passed.

  • Widens the authority of the IIU to coordinate all intelligence department-wide, streamlines all intelligence efforts into one unit, reporting directly to the Secretary. Also changes the name to reflect those duties to the Intelligence and Investigative Division.

SB126/HB173 – Prohibition of Polygraph Examinations by Employers – Exemption – Passed

  • Allows the Department to polygraph ALL employees at a correctional facility, including correctional officers, as a condition of employment. Aligns DPSCS with all MD law enforcement and eight local detention centers. Prior to bill’s
    passage, polygraph examination was limited to management and other staff, as a condition of employment, and to correctional officer applicants.

HB1457 – State Correctional Officers’ Bill of Rights – Definition of Correctional Officer – Passed

  • Removes probationary correctional officers from Correctional Officer Bill of Rights (COBR). Amends COBR to work like other Law Enforcement Officer Bill of Rights. Reinforces incentive for good behavior during the first year, and earn the protections COBR offers.

HB1458 – Correctional Services – Charges Recommending Discipline – Investigative Period – Passed

  • Eliminates the requirement that the Department bring administrative charges against an officer 90 days from gaining knowledge of misconduct when an officer is being charged with criminal activity.

In Partnership with the Special Joint Commission

HB175/SB206 – Telecommunications Devices and Accessories -Penalties – Passed

  • The bill increases the penalties for delivering or attempting to deliver a telecommunications device, charger, or SIM card into a facility from 1,000 to 3,000 dollars and from 3 to 5 years. It also makes the penalty consecutive vs. concurrent for inmates charged with the crime.

HB176/SB205 – Correctional Facilities – Officers and Inspection Standards – Passed

  • This bill allows the Department to remove officers from an institution without pay for bringing in a telecommunications device, any sort of drug, and alcohol.

Click here for a look at the Administration’s prison integrity and security agenda

Click here to read the DPSCS 2014 Legislative Report in its entirety

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