HOWARD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
POLICY & PROCEDURE
SUBJECT: Administration
P & P #: A-000
TITLE: Mission Statement and Organization
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 14, 2016
REVIEWED BY:
Patricia Schupple, Deputy Director
AUTHORITY:
Jack Kavanagh, Director
POLICY: The mission of the Howard County Department of Corrections is to protect the citizens of Howard County by providing a secure facility for persons legally confined in the County. The Department provides for the safety of the inmates/detainees and staff by maintaining a humane respectful living and working environment. It is also the policy of this Department that no inmate/detainee is discriminated against with regard to programs, services, or activities on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation or political beliefs. It is also the Department’s policy to adhere to all Adult Detention Center standards established by the Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards.
The Administration and staff are dedicated to providing a balanced Correctional program that meets applicable County, State, and Federal standards. The Department will also review and implement, as best practices in the field of corrections. Concerted efforts are made to ensure that the inmate’s human rights and dignity are not violated. The staff will be firm, fair, impartial and above all consistent in dealing with inmates. As appropriate, inmates will be provided programs to assist them in their efforts for reentry into the community.
REFERENCES: Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards, Adult Detention Centers (MCCS ADC).
DEFINITIONS: None
PROCEDURES:
I. Achievement of Goals
A. To achieve the operational goals as stated in the Mission of the Department, the Administration has developed a series of policies and procedures which will offer guidance to staff in the daily operation of the Detention Center and the Central Booking Facility.
B. The Administration realizes that the effective daily operation of the Detention Center and the Central Booking Facility is contingent on the staff knowing and understanding the philosophy, goals and policies of the Department. To reach this objective, all staff receives training based on the policies and procedures. Staff shall also receive regular testing on the Department’s policies. The Training Captain is responsible for policy testing.
II. Policy and Procedure Review
To ensure that the Department’s philosophy, goals and policies are appropriate, they will be reviewed by the Director and designated staff at least yearly in accordance with HCDC Policy A-003, Policy and Procedure and Post Order review. Staff are encouraged to participate, to the maximum degree possible, in recommending changes as needed.
III. Legal Compliance
Court decisions as well as legislative mandates frequently promulgated and are being made daily which effect the operation of the Department. The Director of Corrections will review, evaluate and implement, when appropriate, any and all court decisions, legislative mandates which impact directly on the operation of the Department.
IV. Organization
The Director has established an organizational structure to effectively carry out the mission of the Department and to ensure the operations of the Detention Center and the Central Booking Facility are in compliance with established policy and procedure. The official Organizational Chart is attached as Appendix 1 to this policy.