Public Safety and Corrections Archives

Prince George’s Police Department Leads the Way In Modernizing Recruitment Practices

Amidst a nationwide shortage of public safety officials, Prince George's adopts new hiring strategy to modernize and streamline recruitment of quality candidates into the county police department. Following a recent hiring blitz, the Prince George's County Police Department has made 98 conditional offers of employment. The April 18 hiring fair, organized by the Prince George’s County Police Department, was designed to compress what is traditionally a months-long recruitment pipeline into a single, highly structured day.…

Comments Off

April 27, 2026

Public Safety and Corrections

Juvenile Detention Changes Coming for Local Detention Centers

Maryland General Assembly sets 2029 deadline for prohibition on housing juveniles in adult detention facilities, including local county detention centers, bringing significant relief from operations and liability challenges for local governments. After a number of attempts, the Maryland General Assembly has moved forward with provisions that effectively bar the long term holding or housing of juveniles in adult detention centers. The provisions passed during the 2026 legislative session on SB 323, which was initially a…

Comments Off

April 27, 2026

Anne Arundel Maintains Triple-A Bond Rating

Anne Arundel County has once again earned a Triple-A bond rating from all three major credit rating agencies, marking the fourth consecutive year the county has received the highest possible designation. The ratings were reaffirmed by Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Ratings, and S&P Global Ratings, placing Anne Arundel among a small group of counties nationwide (roughly 1.5%) to hold top-tier ratings across all three agencies. From the press release: “Since the beginning of my administration, we…

Comments Off

April 23, 2026

Higher Education / Public Safety and Corrections

Detention Center Officers Included in Higher Education Scholarship Fund

With bi-partisan support in both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly, a bill expanding existing public safety scholarships to include correctional officers will take effect this summer with the application process beginning January 2027. This year - with the unwavering support of Senator Mary Beth Carozza and Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes - officers working in local detention centers will now have access to an existing public safety scholarship fund for higher education. HB 852/SB 285 –…

Comments Off

April 22, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / Taxes and Revenues

Baltimore County Unveils $5B Budget Focused on Public Safety, Schools, and Affordability

Baltimore County has released its proposed $5 billion Fiscal Year 2027 budget, outlining a spending plan centered on public safety, education, infrastructure, and cost-of-living pressures, all without raising taxes. The proposal reflects an effort to balance continued investment in core services with maintaining the county’s strong financial standing, including its Triple-A bond rating. Core Priorities: The FY2027 proposal directs funding toward several areas that residents are most likely to see directly, including: public safety and…

Comments Off

April 21, 2026

Business Affairs / County Budgets / County News / Courts / Economic Development / Education / Elections / Emergency Management / Employee Benefits and Relations / Energy / Environment / Feature / Finance and Procurement / General Assembly News / Government Liability and Courts / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Human Resources / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony / Parks and Recreation / Pensions & Public Funds / Planning and Zoning / Public Information and Ethics / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues / Tourism / Transportation and Public Works

2026 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. Maryland’s 448th legislative session unfolded under significant fiscal pressure. Lawmakers closed the fiscal 2027 gap, preserved reserves, and fully funded principal commitments, such as the Blueprint, but did not resolve the larger structural deficits projected for the years ahead. That budget pressure shaped debates across nearly every policy area, from…

Comments Off

April 17, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Elections / Energy / Environment / General Assembly News / Housing and Community Development / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections / Transportation and Public Works

Conduit Street Podcast: 90 Days Later — Sine Die Recap

This Week on the Conduit Street Podcast, we bring you an episode fresh from Sine Die to break down the 2026 legislative session from start to finish. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

Comments Off

April 17, 2026

MACo Testimony / Public Safety and Corrections

2026 End of Session Wrap-Up: Public Safety & Corrections

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work on public safety and corrections policies in the 2026 General Assembly session. Counties are critical partners in Maryland's public safety and criminal justice systems, overseeing law enforcement, operating local detention centers, and coordinating emergency response services that protect residents every day. Through its public safety and corrections advocacy, MACo works to ensure that state policies support effective operations, adequate resources, and local flexibility in meeting…

Comments Off

April 14, 2026

County News / Emergency Management / Public Safety and Corrections

Anne Arundel Opens New Crownsville Fire Station

Anne Arundel County has placed the new Crownsville Fire Station 6 into service, marking a transition in how the surrounding community is served. The 22,000+ square-foot facility, located at Sunrise Beach Road and Generals Highway, replaces the former Herald Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, which has now closed after years of service. The new station is designed to improve both response capabilities and firefighter safety. It will house multiple units, including Engine 6, Tanker 6, Medic…

Comments Off

April 2, 2026

County News / Public Safety and Corrections

Baltimore City Launches Resident-Led Safety Initiative

Baltimore City is taking a hands-on approach to public safety by investing directly in residents. Mayor Brandon Scott has announced the Community Action Lab, a new initiative designed to equip residents, small business owners, and community partners with the tools to help lead neighborhood-level safety and revitalization efforts. The program reflects a growing trend in local government: treating public safety not just as a policing function, but as a shared, community-driven responsibility. About the Program…

Comments Off

April 2, 2026