Did you know that 115,978 people were processed through Maryland jails in fiscal year 2014. Or that local corrections operating expenditures in fiscal year 2013 totaled $370,148,247.

These and other important facts were shared at the MACo Winter Conference session “10 Things You Don’t Know About Running a County Jail” presented by Michael R. Merican, Warden, St. Mary’s County Detention Center and President of Maryland Correctional Administrator’s Association, and Robert L. Green, Warden, Montgomery County Detention Center, Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

The session, moderated by Delegate Peña-Melnyk, focused on the multitude of complex issues faced in efficiently and effectively operating a county jail. A mental illness and substance abuse crisis, pretrial reform efforts, solitary confinement and restrictive housing restrictions, overcrowding and inmate phone revenues are just a few of the challenges issues local jails face must manage amidst rising costs and increased regulations.