Statement of the Chairs of the Special Joint Commission on Public Safety and Security in State and Local Correctional Facilities

Annapolis, Maryland – Senator James Ed DeGrange (D-32) and Senator Guy Guzzone (D-13) released the following statement concerning Governor Hogan’s rumored announcement on the closure of the Baltimore City Detention Center:

“As the Chairs of the Special Joint Commission on Public Safety and Security in State and Local Correctional Facilities, we were disappointed to receive notice of Governor Hogan’s plans through the media. Consistently, the Governor has circumvented the Legislature rather than working together to find bipartisan and consensus-driven solutions. Our bipartisan commission spent long hours reviewing the facility needs of BCDC in order to develop a comprehensive redevelopment plan for the facility, and would have been able to provide input into this process.

It is unfortunate and disappointing that the Governor is making large scale decisions behind closed doors and without input of others. As many of our colleagues have done since this Governor took office, we urge him to live up to his commitments of bipartisanship and transparency, and to work with the Legislature, local leaders, and members of the public in making decisions, instead of continuously making unilateral decisions without input, context of long-term problems, or transparency.”

The report of the Joint Commission may be found here: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/Pubs/CommTFWorkgrp/2013-Special-Joint-Commission-Public-Safety-Correctional-Facilities-Final-Report.pdf