Maryland Reentry Task Force Calls for Major Reforms, Citing Funding Shortfalls and Gaps in Services

A Maryland task force chaired by Mr. Joshua Hatch is calling for major changes to the state's correctional system after a newly released report raised concerns about funding shortages, limited services and the challenges people face when returning to their communities after incarceration. The report can be read by clicking here.

The findings are outlined in the October 2026 report of the Task Force on the Creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Services, which was submitted to the Maryland General Assembly on October 30, 2026.

Established through legislation passed in 2024, the task force was responsible for reviewing Maryland's existing reentry services, identifying areas needing improvement and recommending ways to better prepare incarcerated individuals for life after their release.

Mr. Hatch, who has personally experienced the challenges of returning to society after incarceration, emphasized that preparing individuals for a successful return to their communities should begin long before they leave prison.

"Reentry does not begin at release. It begins the day a person enters our custody," Mr. Hatch wrote in the report.

According to the task force's findings, Maryland has more than 17,000 people incarcerated statewide, with approximately 1,323 individuals expected to return to their communities from state Division of Correction custody during fiscal year 2027.

Despite the ongoing need for these services, the report found that the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services does not have a dedicated budget for its existing reentry operations.

The department currently has 15 reentry specialists who help incarcerated individuals prepare for release and connect with community resources. However, the report indicates that an additional 45 positions are needed to better serve the population. State officials estimated that a properly staffed reentry unit would cost approximately $3.06 million, although the task force considers that amount a starting point.

As part of its review, the task force surveyed 2,472 incarcerated individuals across 20 Maryland correctional institutions. Housing, employment and financial stability were among the most common concerns raised by those preparing to return home.

Approximately 18.5% identified finding housing as their biggest anticipated challenge, while 18.3% pointed to financial stability and 16.5% identified employment.

The survey also revealed that nearly six out of every ten respondents rated the services they received while incarcerated as poor or very poor. Among individuals within 180 days of their expected release, approximately 25.8% reported feeling unprepared to return to their communities.

Housing was an especially significant concern among women incarcerated at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women, where 26.8% identified it as their greatest anticipated challenge.

The task force further reported that 13 of Maryland's 23 counties had no identifiable transitional housing program specifically serving returning citizens. According to the findings, some individuals who are otherwise eligible for release remain incarcerated because suitable housing arrangements have not been secured.

Another concern highlighted in the report involves the number of individuals who become involved with the correctional system again after being released.

Based on data from the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the task force found that 34.16% of individuals released during fiscal year 2022 experienced what the state classifies as recidivism within three years. This includes new sentences, new probation sentences and returns to custody for supervision violations, meaning not every case involved someone returning to prison for a new crime.

The report identified young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 as having the highest recidivism rate, at 47.59%.

Closer to home, the task force identified Anne Arundel County as one of the jurisdictions participating in Maryland's Local Reentry Program, which allows eligible individuals to complete the final portion of their sentences in participating local detention facilities.

According to the findings, only 10 of Maryland's 24 local detention centers have agreements allowing these transfers.

During the 24 month period reviewed, only 11 individuals were transferred through the program statewide. Six were transferred to Anne Arundel County, while the remaining five went to Montgomery County.

The report also identified Anne Arundel County as the only jurisdiction that had actively reached out to incarcerated individuals about participating in the program, although that effort was limited to a single occasion.

Unlike some participating counties, Anne Arundel County does not charge the state a daily fee for these transfers.

Despite the county's participation, the task force concluded that Maryland's local reentry agreements remain underused, limiting opportunities to connect individuals with services closer to home.

To address these concerns, the task force recommends creating a permanent Division of Returning Citizens within the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

The proposed division would build on existing programs while improving coordination between correctional facilities, government agencies and community organizations.

The report also calls for establishing a Governor's Office of Returning Citizens Affairs, led by a Cabinet level Director of Reintegration appointed by the Governor. The task force strongly recommends that the person selected for this position have personal experience with incarceration.

A separate State Reentry Council would bring together government officials, formerly incarcerated individuals and other community representatives to help develop statewide goals and monitor progress.

Additional recommendations include expanding housing assistance, improving employment and job training opportunities, strengthening access to health care and education, and helping individuals obtain identification documents before release.

The task force also recommends beginning reentry planning when individuals first enter the correctional system rather than waiting until they are nearing release.

These proposals remain recommendations and would require additional action by state leaders. The task force also acknowledges that some recommendations still need cost estimates and further evaluation.

Throughout the report, Mr. Hatch and the task force emphasize that holding individuals accountable for their actions and giving them opportunities to rebuild their lives are not opposing goals.

The findings recognize that Maryland already has programs and organizations working to support returning citizens. However, the task force maintains that more consistent funding, better coordination and stronger oversight are needed to make those efforts more effective.

As Maryland lawmakers consider the recommendations, the report raises an important question about whether the state will provide the resources necessary to address the problems it has now documented.

For individuals preparing to return home after incarceration, those decisions could make a meaningful difference in their ability to find housing, secure employment and successfully rebuild their lives.

The task force has presented Maryland with a plan for improvement. What remains to be seen is whether the state's leaders will turn those recommendations into action.