State to Award $1 Million for Pretrial Services

Today, the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services (GOCCP) announced its intention to, under the Pretrial Services Grant Program, distribute $1 million in FY 2022 to local courts and governments to improve pretrial services. In a press release, GOCCP explained the potential benefits of this funding:

corridor in a jail

“Pretrial service programs provide our judges additional tools for safely referring non-violent offenders to alternative services to create better public safety outcomes for our communities,” said Glenn Fueston, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services. “That translates to more available resources to keep hardened criminals off Maryland streets while decreasing the chance of recidivism among non-violent offenders.”

According to GOCCP, this funding will help recipients adopt “evidence-based risk assessments, new monitoring technology, and [hire] case management staff to handle referrals for substance use and mental health services.” The Pretrial Services Grant Program was established by the General Assembly in 2018 for the purpose of assisting “counties in the development, implementation, and improvement of pretrial services programs.”

Read the full press release.