What We Do
The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is one of the largest departments in Maryland with nearly 12,000 employees and a budget of more than $1 billion. In order to fulfill our mission of promoting safety, we have increased security at our institutions while leading the way in innovative restorative justice projects that will help offenders reintegrate into society upon release.
Public Safety operates 19 institutions, including several pretrial facilities, as well as 42 Parole and Probation offices throughout the state. See our organizational charts: DPSCS Organizational Chart | Office of the Secretary Direct Reports
Our primary objective is to ensure safety so that all Marylanders can enjoy living and working in the state. We are achieving this by increasing security in our institutions and supplying offenders and former-offenders the tools necessary to stay out of the criminal justice system.
We are also working with partner agencies, sharing important intelligence information in order to reduce crime and violence.
Around the state, we work in the communities to which many of our offenders will one day return. Offenders are out in the community every day, performing public works and sustainability projects that save taxpayer dollars and help preserve Maryland's natural resources.
The State of Maryland pledges to provide constituents, businesses, customers, and stakeholders with services in the following manner:
- Friendly and Courteous: We will be helpful and supportive and have a positive attitude and passion for what we do.
- Timely and Responsive: We will be proactive, take initiative, and anticipate your needs.
- Accurate and Consistent: We will always aim for 100% accuracy, and be consistent in how we interpret and implement state policies and procedures.
- Accessible and Convenient: We will continue to simplify and improve access to information and resources.
- Truthful and Transparent: We will advance a culture of honesty, clarity and trust.
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Customer Service Annual Report
Our Vision
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services will be nationally recognized as a department that believes its own employees are its greatest strength, and values the development of their talents, skills, and leadership. We will be known for dealing with tough issues by capitalizing on the strength of interagency collaboration. We will be nationally known as the department that takes responsibility for the greatest of problems, and moves quickly and quietly to bring about successful change. The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services will be known as one of the national leaders in the development and use of technology through system interoperability. Others will look to this department for its effective leadership and evidence-based practices. We will be known for our belief in the value of the human being, and the way we protect those individuals, whether they are members of the public, our own employees, those we are obligated to keep safe and in custody, or victims of crime. The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services will be known as an organization that focuses on its mission and takes care of its people.