Agency Reorganization Keeps Md. Inmates Near Home
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- Maryland's correctional secretary says an agency reorganization will keep more offenders close to home.
Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Gary Maynard told The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown on Wednesday that the changes are aimed partly at keeping prisoners in the same region they committed crimes.
He says up to 90 percent of offenders will be imprisoned and released in their home regions.
The changes establish north, south and central management regions. The south includes 13 counties on the Eastern Shore and southern Maryland. The north encompasses the rest of the state except Baltimore city and Baltimore County.
The most serious offenders will still be sent to the maximum-security North Branch prison near Cumberland.
The agency says the reorganization also will improve communication among its pretrial, prison and parole-and-probation units.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
