U.S. officials are increasingly looking abroad for how to design a better prison or jail system. In fact, at least 10 U.S. states now model some of their prison units or practices after prison systems in Western Europe and Scandinavia.
U.S. officials look to Europe to learn how to make prison better
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American prison officials are looking to European nations like Germany and Norway for a roadmap on how to design a prison that emphasizes rehabilitation and a successful return to life on the outside.www.thebanner.com/community/criminal-justice/carolyn-scruggs-maryland-corrections-OTVGMUG73BAYXN2...
Maryland's public safety and corrections chief is stepping down
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Carolyn Scruggs, who was appointed by Gov. Wes Moore in 2023, informed her staff Wednesday evening that she was departing, two sources said.www.mdsecondlook.com/uploads/1/4/7/9/147950346/final_lwop_report.pdf
For the roughly 400 individuals serving life without parole (LWOP) sentences in Maryland, they are condemned to die in prison, not by being put to death by the state, but from disease, violence, or old age.
www.vera.org/state-level-criminal-justice-progress-in-2026
Jurisdictions to watch: Blue states like Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia continued building on strong records of reform rather than resting on their laurels. Maryland enacted major reforms for the second consecutive year, including a Fair Chance Housing Act and the Youth Charging Reform Act
State-Level Criminal Justice Progress in 2026
www.vera.org
Vera works closely with government and civic leaders to urgently build and improve justice systems that ensure fairness, promote safety, and strengthen…Comment on Facebook Vera works closely ...
I am a homeless Maryland resident with one year sobriety and have been blocked on social media by Jake Day the Maryland housing secretary for calling him out . The Supreme Court has previously ruled this illegal for office holders to block residents and I want to start a law suit asap
www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2026women.html
How many women are held in prisons, jails, and other correctional facilities in the United States? Why are they there? How are their experiences different from men’s?
Women's Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2026
www.prisonpolicy.org
198,800 women are behind bars in the U.S. See the report that shows where they are locked up and why.marylandmatters.org/2026/07/22/clash-between-union-and-state-over-prison-staffing-heats-up-after-...
Violence among inmates has swelled in recent years. There have been 32 homicides investigated at state prison facilities since 2023 – more than half of all inmate killings recorded since 2015.
www.thebanner.com/community/criminal-justice/maryland-prison-killings-increase-RAYXJXX4BRCPTLXCKY...
Maryland officials, she said, cannot abdicate their duty to keep the people in their facilities safe. “That’s a constitutional obligation,” Deitch said. “It’s not just a good idea.”
Maryland prisons rank among nation’s worst for killings
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Since 2023, Maryland has had more prison homicides than all of its neighboring states combined. Its homicide rate last year was nearly four times the national average, based on available data gathered...marylandmatters.org/2026/07/19/eight-roxbury-correctional-institution-inmate-stabbings-over-july-...
“I think the biggest thing, especially as far as the staff, because you’re not going to be able to staff overall, is having the National Guard come in to support,” [State Sen. Paul Corderman (R-Washington and Frederick)]said..
One reaction from the community was clear: "Wow! Having untrained national guards inside our prisons would be a disaster.."
What are your thoughts on bringing untrained Guards into our prisons?
marylandmatters.org
A July 4 weekend brawl at Roxbury Correctional Institution in which eight inmates were stabbed and hospitalized has renewed scrutiny of conditions at state prisons, with a lawmaker and labor leaders s...Comment on Facebook A July 4 weekend ...
Very disturbing
