On March 10, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample submitted written testimony to the Appropriations Committee in support of HB 852 – Higher Education – Scholarships for Correctional Officers.
This bill expands eligibility for the Maryland Police Officers and Probation Agents Scholarship Program to include correctional officers.
County detention centers play a vital role in Maryland’s public safety and justice systems, yet the professionals who work in corrections often have fewer access points to higher education support than their law enforcement counterparts.
By opening the program to this segment of the public safety workforce, HB 852 aims to encourage professional development, strengthen recruitment and retention, and recognize the critical role correctional staff play in supporting rehabilitation, reentry, and the safe operation of local detention facilities.
Broadening eligibility for funding from scholarship programs to include local correctional officers sends an important message about how much governments and communities value these roles. As the rehabilitative arm of the justice system, corrections officers look out for and care for some of Maryland’s most vulnerable populations.
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