County wardens and NACo health policy advocates discuss the progress and ongoing challenges with the care and rehabilitation of justice-involved communities. With incarceration rates on the rise in Maryland, a panel of experts came together at the MACo Winter Conference to discuss how county jails are adapting to the growing needs of inmates in our county facilities. At risk of sounding like a broken record, staffing shortages and looming retirements are a real and present threat…

Local and state officials shed light on the status of police misconduct reforms and the extensive collaboration required by everyone involved.  The implementation of the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021 involves the collaboration of numerous state and local agencies across Maryland. With speakers from the Attorney General's Office, the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commissions (MPTSC), and County Attorneys, it is clear that all hands are on deck and the process is moving ahead.…

When taking eligible retirees into account with current vacancies, public safety institutions could be facing critical staffing shortages.  The pure concept of public safety allows all the other social and economical elements of society to thrive. At the MACo Winter Conference last week an esteemed panel of public safety experts came together to discuss the current state of the various departments and agencies that come together to keep our communities safe. All three pillars of…

2019 medication-assisted treatment legislation takes shape and notice in Allegany County Detention Center. In a piece earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal published an article discussing the efficacy of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in jails. Programs across the country were highlighted for varying degrees of success. Multiple inmates under supervision at the Allegany County Detention Center in Cumberland, MD discussed their circumstances and treatment. One individual was offered treatment as an alternative to a 10-year maximum…