Criminal Justice (Corrections)

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 815: Correctional Services – Maryland Correctional Enterprises – Report

SB 815 requires Maryland's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), working with a Maryland university, to study prison industry programs in Maine, Ohio, Kansas, and California. The bill mandates an interim progress report by December 1, 2026, and a final report with improvement recommendations for Maryland Correctional Enterprises (MCE) by December 1, 2027. These recommendations must focus on enhancing MCE programs to support successful prisoner reentry. The bill expires automatically on December 31, 2027, without needing further legislative action.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates study to enhance prison industry programs for successful prisoner reentry, directly supporting rehabilitation and criminal justice reform through program improvement recommendations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HB 1123: Criminal Law - Minor's Access to Firearms - Penalty

HB 1123 amends Maryland's criminal code to impose misdemeanor penalties for adults who store or leave a loaded firearm in a location where they knew or should have known an unsupervised minor could access it. The law directly affects adult firearm owners responsible for storage safety, with penalties including up to 5 years in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both. Key exemptions include supervised access by an adult, unlawful entry, law enforcement use during duty, or minors with valid hunter safety certificates. The bill explicitly states violations cannot be used as evidence of negligence in civil cases involving firearm-related injuries or property damage. This bill is scheduled to take effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill imposes penalties to prevent minors' firearm access, promoting public safety and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing gun violence and enhancing responsible storage.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Law Enforcement

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 6, 2026

HB 52: Election Law - Incarcerated Individuals - Voter Hotline and Voting Eligibility (Voting Rights for All Act)

This bill would create a toll-free voter hotline for incarcerated individuals to access voting information, request election materials, and report voting rights violations. It would remove the current ban preventing people convicted of a felony and serving a prison sentence from registering to vote. The law would allow incarcerated individuals to register while imprisoned, changing eligibility rules that currently exclude them. The bill is pending and would take effect January 1, 2027, if passed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves felony voting ban for incarcerated individuals, advancing civil rights and reintegration in criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 397: Criminal Procedure - Expungement - Failure to Obey a Court Order to Report to Confinement

HB 397 allows individuals convicted of failing to report to confinement (a misdemeanor) to petition for expungement of their record. It adds this specific offense to Maryland’s list of eligible cases under expungement law. The bill requires a 5-year waiting period after completing all sentence terms before filing such a petition. This applies only to misdemeanor convictions for not showing up to jail as ordered by a court.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables expungement for misdemeanor failure to report, reducing recidivism and supporting reentry - key criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

Track

died · Maryland · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SB 97: Reentry and Reintegration Support Program - Establishment

SB 97 establishes a voluntary program to help individuals released from Maryland state prisons access essential benefits more smoothly. It requires the Departments of Human Services, Public Safety, and Health to create a coordinated system where correctional facilities assist "returning citizens" (those expected to be released within 90 days) in applying for SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance, and Maryland Medical Assistance *before* release. Key provisions include a standardized prerelease application process, help obtaining required documents (like birth certificates and Social Security cards), and secure data sharing to ensure benefits are active upon release. The program must be implemented by October 1, 2026, with departments required to finalize a data-sharing agreement by April 2027. This directly affects people transitioning from incarceration to community life in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSB 97 creates pre-release assistance for SNAP, TCA, and Medicaid access, directly improving reintegration and reducing recidivism risk through essential support coordination.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires pre-release assistance for Maryland Medical Assistance enrollment, directly expanding healthcare access for returning citizens through coordinated application support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill facilitates access to SNAP, cash assistance, and medical aid for returning citizens, removing barriers to reemployment and aligning with labor support indicators like expanding worker benefits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 414: Courts - Jury Service - Disqualification

HB 414 changes Maryland's jury service rules by removing a disqualification for people currently on parole or probation for crimes punishable by more than one year in prison. Previously, individuals serving such sentences (including parole) were barred from jury duty, but this bill eliminates that specific barrier. The bill maintains disqualifications for crimes involving perjury, witness intimidation, jury intimidation, or certain offenses under Maryland's Criminal Law (Title 8). It also preserves requirements that jurors must understand English to complete qualification forms. This change would allow more people with past convictions to serve on juries, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves jury service disqualification for parole/probation, promoting reintegration and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 438: Adult Prison School Board Model Development Committee

HB 438 establishes the Adult Prison School Board Model Development Committee to create a school board system for correctional education in Maryland's prisons and juvenile facilities. The committee, composed of state officials, correctional education representatives, and experts (including formerly incarcerated individuals and nonprofit advocates), must develop a funding and operational plan by June 2028, examining costs for staff, materials, and budget management. This procedural bill does not enact immediate policy changes but sets a timeline for recommendations to the Governor and legislature. It expires automatically on June 30, 2028, after its two-year study period.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes committee to develop correctional education programs in prisons, directly advancing rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through structured educational systems in correctional facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

Track

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 23, 2026

HB 667: Correctional Services - Comprehensive Rehabilitative Prerelease Services - Female Incarcerated Individuals

HB 667 requires Maryland to create a dedicated facility for female incarcerated individuals transitioning from prison, directly affecting women at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women eligible for prerelease. The bill mandates a separate facility with specific security features (based on low violence/escape risk and good behavior), located in Baltimore City on at least 3 acres away from other prisons, and designed to accommodate 1.25 times the current eligible population. It sets strict deadlines for planning (by June 2021), construction (starting September 2021), and operation (by June 2023), with detailed requirements for housing, accessibility, program spaces, and medical services. The Department of General Services must oversee procurement, and the Correctional Ombudsman must verify compliance with these requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates dedicated facility for female prerelease rehab, directly advancing rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism per bill's focus on comprehensive rehabilitative services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 89: Election Law - Incarcerated Individuals - Voter Hotline and Voting Eligibility (Voting Rights for All Act)

SB 89, the "Voting Rights for All Act," would require Maryland's State Board of Elections to create a toll-free hotline for incarcerated individuals to access voting information, request election materials, and report voting rights issues. It would remove a previous rule that barred people convicted of a felony and serving a prison sentence from registering to vote, allowing them to become registered voters while incarcerated. The bill also repeals a law that made voting while incarcerated a felony offense. These changes would directly affect incarcerated individuals in Maryland convicted of felonies and are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves voting barriers for incarcerated individuals, aligning with criminal justice reform by protecting civil rights and promoting reintegration.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 12, 2026

HB 501: Criminal Law - Sexual Offense by a Person in a Position of Authority

HB 501 amends Maryland law to prohibit individuals in positions of authority (such as teachers, coaches, or school staff working with minors) from engaging in sexual contact with minors who are at least six years younger. It increases penalties for violations: first offenses carry up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine, while repeat offenders face up to three years in jail or a $1,000 fine. The bill also adds this offense as a predicate crime for sexual solicitation of minors and updates definitions related to sex offender registry tiers. It directly affects educators, program leaders, and others in supervisory roles working with minors under age 18.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for sexual offenses by authority figures, strengthening criminal justice protections for minors through enhanced sentencing and predicate crime designation.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects students from abuse by school staff (teachers/coaches), enhancing school safety and trust in educational environments, directly advancing student protection within education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections