About Us

The Department of Corrections in Prince George’s County, MD was created as an independent agency in 1978, when it separated from the Sheriff’s Department. In addition to managing the population at the County Correctional Center, an adult correctional facility housing male and female offenders and juveniles waived to adult status by the Court, the Department supervises pre-trial detainees released to the community plus home detention, electronic monitoring, day reporting and community service work crew populations. It also operates regional booking sites. The authorized uniformed officer strength for Fiscal Year 2008 (July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008) is 479, and for civilian employees it is 151. The FY 2008 budget for the Department is $68,297,000. The facility is accredited by the Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards and by the American Correctional Association.

The County Correctional Center in Upper Marlboro opened in February 1987 as a state of the art correctional facility. Today it is divided into 16 self contained housing units with administrative, program and support functions. Housing units have cells averaging between 70 and 90 square feet that open to a common day room. The present inmate bed capacity is approximately 1,332. Average daily population in FY 2007 was 1,489. In July 1999, facility expansion and modernization began. The first phase included two housing units with 192 inmate beds, enlarged medical treatment facilities, a regional processing center, a renovated reception/entrance area, and increased parking. The second phase brought technology and office modernization; an administrative building with office, training and classroom space; and a modern staff dining room. The current phase includes renovating older housing units, security upgrades, plus addition of two more inmate housing units and a residential work release center. The Correctional Center has a unique cost saving approach to utility service. Methane gas, tapped from a nearby landfill, is piped to a compressor station and fed through a pipeline to the jail site where it powers generators which produce electricity to run the boilers that supply heat and hot water for the institution.

The Correctional Center management system features direct supervision of inmates by correctional officers in a barrier free environment. Officers are expected to set firm, fair and consistent standards. For those who violate housing unit rules and regulations, there is a “jail within a jail” disciplinary segregation area where privileges are revoked and the offender is isolated 23 hours a day. Once a week, Security officers conduct a military style inspection of units; guests are invited to participate. The Department invites community and civic groups, criminal justice professionals, students and other visitors to tour the facility. Design and management of the Correctional Center have resulted in a clean, safe environment where violent incidents and injuries are rare.

Programs for the inmate population include academic and vocational education, drug education and treatment, aftercare assistance and women’s empowerment. The 14 year old award winning barber styling school boasts a 15 percent recidivism rate and 100% job placement. The juvenile population (ages 14-17) is managed through the innovative comprehensive Juveniles in Adult Correctional Settings program. The Department operates its own state certified training academy for new officers and mandates annual training and staff development for all employees. Community volunteers provide spiritual guidance and supplement inmate programs. A community service work program for court ordered offenders assists government and non profit agencies. For more information, call 301-952-7013.