Baltimore Central Booking joins “elite” national correctional facilities

TOWSON, MD  – Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Stephen T. Moyer helped unfurl the lobby banner signifying the accreditation of the Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center by the prestigious American Correctional Association.

In bestowing the honor of surpassing the rigorous audit, the 143-year-old association welcomed the booking center that houses about 800 detainees a day as a, “member of the elite in achieving correctional excellence.”

“This is what I want to be all about, it’s about this team and the great work this department does,” Moyer said. “I’m just so proud of everybody. Everybody looks sharp, everybody looks professional and wants to do their jobs and they do it well.”

The facility scored a 98 percent in the audit of 141 correctional standards. The mission of the accreditation process is to upgrade and improve practices and conditions in adult and juvenile correctional facilities. The audit is founded on a commitment to accountability, professionalism and respect for basic human rights and recognizes sound and effective correctional practices.

“I have to thank the staff, the officers,” said Carolyn Scruggs, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Pretrial Detention and Services who served as Warden during the process. “Without you, there is no us.”

The examination included interviews with 50 detainees who reported that staff were professional and addressed their needs. Acting Warden Stacey Lyles-Foster commended the dozens of staff members who participated in completion of the audit.

“We get lost in the I’s, me’s and my’s but it really is a team effort,” she said.