Will Support Reentry Programming for Women and Men
ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 16, 2019)— The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) today announced a plan to redeploy Brockbridge Correctional Facility (BCF) in Jessup as a comprehensive Pre-release, Re-entry, and Workforce Development Facility.
“Brockbridge Correctional Facility presents incredible existing programming space as well as other opportunities to create a facility fully-dedicated to reentry programming, continued workforce development, education, work release, family mediation, and other essential programming,” said DPSCS Secretary Robert Green. “This will allow the department to create additional bridges of connection and expand on our already existing pre-release and reentry facilities across the state.”
Under Governor Hogan’s leadership, DPSCS has undertaken a bold commitment to change the way corrections and community supervision function in our state. Last year, more than 5,000 people came home from DPSCS facilities. The facility will add new programs that are research and data driven, while expanding upon the services once available at the pre-release center for women, which was forced to close for budgetary reasons ten years ago.
The facility will serve women and men who are within 18 months of final release and appropriately classified to live in a minimum-security, pre-release environment. DPSCS will deploy direct supervision concepts that have proven highly successful and efficient in today’s corrections and community corrections facilities. The space will support the separation of women and men within the same structure, and will be designed to accommodate community programs that collaboratively align with the Department’s strong re-entry focus.
“Reentry is not about one place,” noted the Secretary, in detailing why the centrally-located BCF is well-positioned geographically to serve people leaving prison for all corners of Maryland. “Our population is returning to every county across our state. We’re envisioning a facility with areas that will allow for significant private-public partnerships and community engagement, all focused on going home.”
Although separate living and community spaces will be available, common spaces for co-ed programming under staff supervision will be created. Co-ed programming is a recognized practice in the corrections community, as it prepares one for successful reentry and community engagement while maximizing program delivery in an equitable manner.
DPSCS works closely with Maryland’s Department of Labor to provide workforce development and correctional education programs. “We are tremendously excited to expand our partnership with DPSCS by providing additional workforce development training opportunities to transitioning inmates at the Brockbridge Correctional Facility,” said Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Tiffany Robinson. “We are committed to equipping inmates with the tools they need to successfully reintegrate back into Maryland’s workforce as productive and self-sufficient citizens.”
This new facility would enhance the strong partnership between DPSCS and the Department of Labor, allowing the agencies to harness resources to engage with private sector prospective employers who will provide vocational development opportunities in high-demand occupations. This critical element will ensure that returning citizens receive intensive training and job skills development designed to help them find specific jobs that are in demand, thus creating opportunities for easier assimilation back into their neighborhoods.
“Ninety percent of our population will return to the streets of our communities,” said Secretary Green, a 35-year corrections veteran who is nationally recognized for his work in re-entry. “There is direct and indisputable evidence that coordinated reentry efforts significantly reduce recidivism and criminogenic behavior, which includes a reduction in violence.”
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