Maryland could change the way it penalizes drug offenders

New recommendations have been made that may change the amount of time Marylanders are locked up for drug offenses.

Gov. Larry Hogan launched the Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council to take a closer look at how Maryland sentences the state’s drug offenders. The goal, to develop statewide framework for sentencing and corrections policies to further reduce the State’s incarcerated population, reduce spending on corrections and reinvest in strategies to increase public safety and decrease the amount of repeat offenders.

“Maryland recognized that we have a very serious problem and and so jails are filled with people with mental health and substance use disorder concerns the system is broken,” said John Winslow, director of Dorchester County’s Addiction program.

The council reviewed what reasons Maryland’s prisoners are currently incarcerated for and they found two of the top five, were for drug related offenses.

The problem the council found was that a majority of these drug offenders ended up back in prison once released.

The council says the solution is start offering treatment programs as a first option paired with reduced sentencing lengths.

“We’ve been trying to treat a Health problem with incarceration and that’s not the right direction,” said Del. Kathleen Dumais (D), who sits on the council.

Winslow said that although each case is different, offering substance abuse help is the best way to ensure that these offenders don’t end up back behind bars once they’re released

“Offering treatment behind the walls and then following up with ongoing treatment is the only sensible way that I can think of dealing with this horrendous problem,” Winslow said.

Council officials said these recommendations will turn into proposed legislation in the state house once the session begins in January.