Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (DOCR) is to protect and serve the residents of Montgomery County and the general public by providing progressive and comprehensive correctional, rehabilitative, and community re-entry services. These functions are achieved through the operation of well-managed and effective correctional programs, including: the use of pre-trial supervision; secure incarceration; community treatment; reintegration programs; highly accountable security methods and procedures in each operating unit and program; and effective, progressive administration and management oversight.

Budget Overview

The total recommended FY27 Operating Budget for the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation is $99,426,573, an increase of $4,016,019 or 4.21 percent from the FY26 Approved Budget of $95,410,554. Personnel Costs comprise 88.25 percent of the budget for 530 full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 537.07 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 11.75 percent of the FY27 budget.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following is emphasized:

• Safe Neighborhoods

Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable), with multi-program measures displayed at the front of this section and program-specific measures shown with the relevant program. The FY26 estimates reflect funding based on the FY26 approved budget. The FY27 and FY28 figures are performance targets based on the FY27 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY28.

Initiatives

• Create a Canine Unit to enhance institutional safety; deter the introduction of contraband; and support facility operations through targeted search, detection, and security functions.
• Continue to increase custody and security related technology to reduce the introduction of drugs and contraband within all correctional facilities. DOCR will purchase and implement X-ray bag scanners at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF) loading dock area and the visiting area at the Montgomery County Detention Center. Additionally, MCCF will redeploy an additional daytime Correctional Officer post in the warehouse area to improve the scanning of incoming jail deliveries.
• Continue to incrementally install no-flush toilet systems that prevent inmates from flooding jail cells and disposing of trash and contraband down the toilet. This technology improves facility security by allowing facilities to control all plumbing fixtures which makes contraband searches and inmate extractions safer and easier.
• Completed an audit by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) and will seek full re-accreditation in 2026. NCCHC is the largest provider of correctional health care-specific services, resources, and education. Accreditation with NCCHC will improve patient safety and outcomes and reduce liability for one of the most litigated areas of a correctional operation.

• Continue expanding Reentry Tablet Program for detention services. The tablet program improves racial equity by providing educational resources; reduces staff assaults and use of force; improves access to education resources/programming, tutoring, and test assessment; and increases family engagement.

• Begin a no cost recidivism study with Maryland Statistical Analysis Center. This recidivism study will analyze the existing population to better understand recidivism crime trends with funding from the Governor's Office of Crime and Prevention.

• Reinstate Quarterly Award Program to reinforce the department's commitment to a culture of excellence, innovation, and daily accountability. The program recognizes and values employees' contributions, boosts morale, and supports motivation, job satisfaction, and retention. In addition, DOCR is establishing an employee support unit focused on promoting wellness, stress management, and mental health well-being.

Innovations and Productivity Improvements

• Awarded a Maryland Computer Labs Program grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to facilitate the enhancement and creation of cutting-edge computer labs for both the Detention Services Division and the Community Corrections Division. These computer labs will reduce gaps in access to devices and the internet for Maryland's most underserved populations. They enable the reentry of key programs such as the American Job Center, the Model Learning Center, and the General Educational Development. A new kiosk/lab to conduct intake interviews for Pre-Trial Supervision and Alternative Community Services clients will also be created.

• Upgraded the network infrastructure for Community Corrections and installed new fiber cables, switches, and a new Wi-Fi network to improve efficiency and productivity for the staff, residents, and the offender population to enable better connectivity, communication, and data flow enhancing efficiency and productivity at all levels, including staff, residents, and the offender population.

• Realign diversion programs within Community Corrections Pre-Trial Services Unit to address changing offender populations. DOCR created new hybrid positions that allow the merger of Alternative Community Services and the Pre-Trial Supervision Unit.
• Migrate DOCR Telestaff schedular and timekeeping into one platform to consolidate timekeeping and scheduling into one application and move away from Telestaff and MCtime as stand-alone application systems.

• Built a custom application in-house using the Microsoft Power Platform, Power Apps, and Power BI to track Security Threat Groups (STG) within the department's custody. Power BI dashboards were created to give DOCR staff real-time visibility about STG-affiliated individuals across housing units and facilities. Users may also access arrest records, charges, and detailed criminal histories within one platform. The new system will improve efficiency, accuracy, and intelligence-sharing among public safety partners.

  
  

• Developed a customized in-housed application that automates random drug testing, tracks result over time, and supports seamless documentation and reporting. The DOCR drug testing process was entirely paper based, making it difficult to manage, track, and audit. Randomized testing was time-consuming, vulnerable to bias, and lacked the structure needed to identify patterns of substance use among incarcerated individuals.
  

• Implemented a centralized employee evaluation tracking application that uses the County's Microsoft Power Platform, Power Apps, and Power BI. This application streamlines the evaluation process and reduces costs. The system allows managers to submit and track evaluations for their employees and direct reports. DOCR Human Resources staff can also review, approve, or deny final submissions within the same platform.

• Implemented a digital request submission process for incarcerated individuals who are expected to request program and services. The incarcerated individuals are expected to submit their requests, questions, or concerns via tablet-based forms instead of paper. Digital request forms are now available for key services areas such as Case Management, Custody, Commissary, Food Services, Medical, Mental Health, and Reentry. Requests are routed to staff members for review and response through the Reentry Tablet platform. Paper forms are now reserved only for individuals without tablet access due to intake status or restrictions.

• Implemented data analytics dashboard tools to enhance the departmental business processes and improve outcomes through more effective decision-making.

Program Descriptions

  Pre-Trial Services

There are four independent programs within Pre-Trial Services (PTS): Pre-Trial Assessment Unit, Pre-Trial Supervision Unit, Alternative Community Service Program (ACS), and Intervention Program for Substance Abusers (IPSA).The Pre-Trial Assessment Unit is housed at the Montgomery County Detention Center and is responsible for assessing those who have been newly arrested and...

  Detention Services

Under the supervision of the Warden, Detention Services is responsible for the operation of two detention facilities, the Montgomery County Detention Center (MCDC) located in Rockville, and the Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF) located in Clarksburg. MCDC is responsible for the intake, reception, and diagnostic functions of...

  Pre-Release and Re-entry Services

The Pre-Release and Re-entry Services (PRRS) is a correctional program that provides community-based residential and non-residential alternatives to secure confinement for sentenced adult offenders in which they engage in work, treatment, education, family involvement, and other services as they transition back into the community. The program primarily serves inmates who...

  Medical and Behavioral Health Services

Medical and Behavioral Health Services provides medical and behavioral health care to all incarcerated inmates and in compliance with recognized health care, legal, and correctional standards. The facilities are accredited by the Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards (MCCS) and the American Correctional Association (ACA)....

  Administration and Support

Management Services and the Director's Office serve an advisory function to the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (DOCR) and implement performance accountability programs and general management practices. The program is comprised of the Director's Office; Accreditations and Professional Standards; Human Resources; Training; Procurement; Employee Health, Welfare and Safety;...