KEEPING COMMUNITIES SAFE
Restorative Justice
In 2008, we kicked off our Public Safety Works (PSW) initiative - a restorative justice effort providing valuable life skills to offenders as a bridge to meaningful employment through community-based public works projects.
Second Chances Farm
The Second Chances Farm provides a safe haven for retired race horses that would otherwise face possible abuse or slaughter. The farm provides opportunities for inmates to learn valuable work ethics, maintenance skills and compassion for horses through the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) curriculum.
Veteran Cemetery Maintenance
In collaboration with the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, DPSCS instituted a maintenance program for the Crownsville, Garrison Forrest, and Cheltenham cemeteries.
Maryland continues to be the only state in the nation to employ honorably-discharged veterans as inmate workers in veterans’ cemeteries. Crews worked over 5,700 hours across these cemeteries in FY09.
The Department is currently discussing adding two more veteran cemetery crews
Community Projects
Another cemetery project, Mount Auburn, is a partnership with the Sharp Street United Methodist Church to reclaim the historic Baltimore City African American burial ground from overgrowth. By the end of FY09, 
inmates from the local communities had cleared all 43 acres of brush, using mostly hand tools. Crews have begun returning to clear re-growth at the beginning of FY10.
PSW also worked with Habitat for Humanity on several projects in Baltimore City and Montgomery and Caroline Counties. These projects started with inmates simply hauling drywall or clearing debris. Now, offenders are learning basic carpentry and drywall hanging skills.
Beautification projects and community clean-ups are also widely used by local, state and federal government agencies. Projects have included assisting with restoration to the Antietam Battlefield, snow removal from the Raven’s Stadium, prep and take-down for county fairs, set-up for a Relay for Life event, clearing a high school cross-country track and much more.
Latest Restorative Justice News
- Maynard suggests prisoners dismantle state prison in Jessup - Herald-Mail - Online 02/05/11
- Maryland Prison Chief Outlines Inmate Labor Program - The Star Democrat 01/24/11
- Boonsboro to use inmate crews for general labor - Herald-Mail 12/07/10
- ECI Inmates Clean Up the Town - The Daily Times 10/10/10
- Incarcerated vets tend cemetery through state program - The Capital 09/10/10
- Ex-Cons Help To Rehab Baltimore Blight - National Public Radio (NPR) - Online 07/24/10
- Inmates Help Heal Starved Horses - WHAG - NBC-25 07/09/10
- Women Inmates In Jessup Get Chance to Give Back - Howard County Times 07/09/10
- Horse Rescue Farm Gets Help From Inmates - Baltimore Sun 07/09/10
- MD Inmates Work to Beautify Battlefield - WHAG TV 07/06/10
- Inmates Helping Build Habitat Homes - WBOC 16 07/02/10
- Prison inmates help restore orchard to honor Antietam's brave - Herald-Mail 07/02/10
- MD Inmates Work To Beautify Battlefield Before July 4th - WHAG TV 25 07/01/10
- Inmates praised for work on Antietam battlefield - Associated Press 07/01/10
- Our View: Saturday Cheers - The Daily Times - Online 06/26/10
- ECI allowed to expand prisoner projects 06/23/10
- ECI Annex inmates allowed to work outside 06/09/10
- Inmates Put To Work - WMDT-TV - Online 06/09/10
- Our Towns: Nearly Ten Tons of Trash Picked Up - The Daily Times 06/02/10
- Correctional Services secretary proud of prisoner work programs 06/02/10
- Our Towns: Nearly Ten Tons of Trash Picked Up - The Daily Times 06/02/10
- Correctional Services secretary proud of prisoner work programs - Herald-Mail 06/02/10
- It's working for Salisbury - Daily Times 05/09/10
- Inmate work-release possibility growing on Somerset leaders - The Daily Times-Online 04/21/10
- Inmate Labor Benefits Town of Williamsport with Zero Problems – Herald-Mail 04/17/10
- Inmates Serve Community While Saving Taxpayers Money WHAG TV - 25 04/16/10
- Free Inmate Labor Gains Popularity as Budgets Shrink – Daily Times 12/06/09
- Inmates to clear hiking trail 11/16/09
- Inmates to Clear Hiking Trail Near B-52 Bomber – Cumberland Times-News 11/16/09
- Help For Rosemont PAL? – Baltimore Sun 10/14/09
- Battlefield Preservation – WBFF TV 08/25/09
- Salvaged Stone Used in Antietam Restoration – Herald-Mail 07/07/09
- Prison System Donates Rocks for Battlefield Restoration – Channel 24 07/07/09
- Hagerstown Prison Gives Antietam Battlefield a Hand – Baltimore Sun 07/07/09
- Prisoners Called to Aid Fallen Soliders – Eldersburg Eagle 12/17/08
Quick Facts
Public Safety Works Projects
- 70 current projects at the end of CY09
- A daily average of 400 offenders working on PSW projects
Second Chances Farm
- Opened May 2009 – Partnership with Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
- 70 acres of reclaimed farm land
- Anticipated capacity of 40 horses and 15 inmate employees
Veterans Cemeteries
- Honorably discharged inmate veterans giving back to fellow soldiers
- Crownsville, Garrison Forrest and Cheltenham Cemeteries
- 5,700 hours of maintenance in FY09
Community Projects
- 43 acres of historic African American cemetery cleared
- Habitat for Humanity
- Antietam Battlefield restoration
- Local neighborhood clean-ups
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