Public News Service

The youth arrest rate peaked in 1996 at more than 8,000 per 100,000 young people. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Juvenile crime has been falling for decades, but disparities remain

A new report shows the rate of juvenile crime has been falling for years but disparities remain in Maryland and nationwide. The Sentencing Project …

People in prison in Maryland will be able to take higher education courses offered in Fall, Spring and Summer sessions. (Adobe Stock/AI)

MD expands prison educational access to all 12 state universities

In a new arrangement, people in prison in Maryland will have access to programs at all the state's public universities. The Maryland Department of …

A National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy report illustrated how some wealth was built through discriminatory practices including racially restrictive deed covenants. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Philanthropy must do more to repair past harms

A new report argued many charitable foundations need to examine the origin of their wealth and repair harms done. The National Committee for …

The last federal government shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019 lasted 35 days. (Adobe Stock)

Rally calls on Congress to fund government, raise federal employee wages

Federal employees rallied in Washington D.C. this week calling on Congress to raise their wages and avoid a government shutdown. With more than 120,…

Congress is proposing gradually increasing the federal Child Tax Credit to $2,000 per child in 2025. (AI/Adobe Stock)

Report: MD children doing well overall, racial gaps persist

A new report looking at child well-being finds Maryland doing better than most, but racial disparities persist in the state. The Baltimore-based …

The number of children who were victims of labor trafficking in Maryland and served by state workers grew from 26 in 2019 to 72 in 2021, according to a new survey. (Adobe Stock)

Study calls for changes to address child labor trafficking in MD

A new study recommends state agencies change their methods to address child labor trafficking. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of …

Households with income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are eligible for the ACP. (Adobe Stock)

Thousands of Maryland Households Qualify for Internet Subsidy

Maryland residents struggling to pay for web access can get help from two connected programs. The Federal Communications Commission's Affordable …

The Latino population in Maryland is the 17th largest in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Widening College Completion Gap Between Latino, White Students in MD

A new report looking at Latino college completion rates across the country shows Maryland is doing better than most. The report from the non-profit …

More than 7 million Americans are receiving Supplemental Security Income. (Adobe Stock)

Social Security Administration Raising Awareness of SSI in Maryland

The Social Security Administration wants to make sure Marylanders know about the Supplemental Security Income program. Supplemental Security Income …

If enacted, the pilot program would begin on July 1. (Adobe Stock)

MD Legislature Considers Four-Day Workweek Pilot Program

A bill in the Maryland Legislature would create a pilot program to study the impact of a four-day workweek. The pilot program would create a tax …

This year, more than 70% of attempts to restrict library resources targeted multiple titles. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland Libraries Call Attention to Censorship During Banned Books Week

Controversial books are nothing new, but the incidence of book challenges and bans has increased substantially in recent years. This week marks the …

The average victim of elder financial abuse loses upwards of $120,000. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland Protect Week: How to Spot and Stop Elder Financial Abuse

Through Friday, Maryland is hosting Protect Week, to help protect against elder financial abuse. That's when someone illegally uses an older …

History and Culture, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Preserve the Baltimore Uprising)">

Maryland Art Exhibit Connects Past, Present in Fight for Civil Rights

A new museum exhibition in Baltimore opening to the public today aims to tell the story of Maryland's fight for civil rights, both in the past and …

If the constitutional amendment to legalize adult-use cannabis passes, those age 21 and older in Maryland will be allowed to cultivate up to two plants for personal use. (andrea/Adobe Stock)

Marijuana Legalization in MD Up to Voters This November

Groups are raising awareness about a ballot initiative in Maryland to legalize adult-use recreational cannabis. The state House and Senate voted …

The Sentencing Project report found, despite the number of young people arrested declining over the last 10 years, the number of referred youths who were detained increased slightly. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Youth Incarceration Rates Severely Undercounted

Although youth incarceration rates in the U.S. are on the decline, a report from The Sentencing Project reveals the number of young people being …

Melissa Ladd of Maryland Moms Demand Action says soon-to-be-introduced legislation would lead to a ban on

Maryland Moms Demand Action; Rally Calls for "Ghost-Gun" Ban

Around 125 gun-law reform advocates and gun-violence survivors rallied in Annapolis Tuesday, less than a week after gun deaths across Baltimore and a …

The People's Commission to Decriminalize Maryland's 2022 legislative priorities hone in on homelessness, poverty, youths, drug policy and bodily autonomy. (Adobe Stock)

MD People's Commission Lists Legislative Priorities for 2022

As Gov. Larry Hogan revealed his proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budget in Annapolis yesterday, the People's Commission to Decriminalize Maryland announced …

More than 60% of women in state prisons have a child younger than 18, according to a report by the Sentencing Project. (Adobe stock)

MD Bill Would Boost Support for Incarcerated Parents

BALTIMORE -- With Maryland's General Assembly session set to start next month, a new proposed bill aims to help nonviolent offenders continue in …

Offenders 60 years or older at the time of release are significantly less likely to return to prison for violent offenses - only a fourth returned, with a public order offense as their most serious charge, according to a U.S. Sentencing Commission report. (Adobe stock)<br /><br />

Maryland Ends Governor’s Ability to Halt Parole

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland lawmakers voted this week to repeal the governor's ability to reject parole decisions for people serving life sentences…

Maryland is one of 12 states where more than half the prison population is African American, according to a new report. (Adobe stock)

Report: MD Has U.S.'s Largest Rate of Black Prison Population

BALTIMORE -- Maryland has the highest incarceration rate for African Americans in the nation, according to a recent report. Ashley Nellis, senior …

Maryland's Montgomery County Public Schools has changed School Resource Officers into 'Community Engagement Officers' this year. They're now located offsite, with no direct communications with school officials. (Wikimedia Commons)<br />

Report Shows Benefits of Funding Alternatives to Police in Schools

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Maryland's largest school district removed police officers from the hallways this fall, for the first time in 19 years, and a new …

United Way of Maryland helped more than 900 households in the state avoid evictions in January through its Strategic Targeted Eviction Prevention Program. (Adobe stock)

As Summer Evictions Loom, MD Group Boosts Prevention Program

BALTIMORE, Md. - With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's eviction moratorium now set to end July 31, and with Maryland's to expire …

The number of Maryland fourth graders who were not proficient in reading increased to 65% in 2019, according to a new report. (Adobe stock)

Report: MD Lawmakers Need to Keep Spotlight on Child Well-Being

BALTIMORE -- Advocates said Maryland lawmakers need to focus more than ever on helping children, as a new report shows the state dropped from 21st in …

After George Floyd's murder last year at the hands of police, residents in Talbot County, Md., renewed efforts to remove this Confederate monument from the county courthouse. (Matthew Straubmiller/Flickr)

On Juneteenth: Protest Aims to Remove MD’s Last Confederate Monument

EASTON, Md. -- President Joe Biden just signed a law creating a federal holiday for Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in Texas…

Some incarcerated students who earned Georgetown University bachelor's degrees in the D.C. Jail system went on to help others behind bars. (Adobe stock)

As Pandemic Eases, MD Prisons to Get Bachelor’s Program

SILVER SPRING, Md. - As the pandemic fades, Maryland prisons are expected to open back up this summer and when they do, Georgetown University is …

Anton Black, 19, died in 2018 after police officers forcibly sat on him while he was handcuffed. (Coalition for Justice for Anton Black)

Chauvin Verdict Raises Questions in Other MD Police Violence Cases

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Members of a justice coalition for a Maryland police case with striking similarities to George Floyd's say former police officer …

Studies show early diversion programs help keep young people out of the criminal justice system. (Adobe Stock)

Youth Advocates Push MD Bill to Divert Kids from Jail

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - As many states consider policing reforms, juvenile-justice groups in Maryland are pushing lawmakers to pass a bill to give police …

Maryland's General Assembly is considering two bills that would reduce the number of police in public schools. (Adobe stock)

MD Groups Push for Reforms After Police Handcuff, Berate 5-Year-Old

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- Social-justice groups in Maryland's largest jurisdiction are calling on lawmakers to reform policing in schools after the …

Many incarcerated Marylanders don't realize they have the right to vote if they're being held pre-trial or serving time for a misdemeanor. (Adobe Stock)

Watershed MD Bill Would Expand Ballot Access for Incarcerated

BALTIMORE - After a Maryland coalition expanded voting rights for people in jails and prisons during the 2020 presidential election, a landmark bill …

Maryland lawmakers are considering a measure to provide changing rooms in state buildings to help people with developmental disabilities. (Adobe stock)

MD Advocates Push for Bills to Support Folks with Disabilities

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council will launch what it calls "DD Day" tomorrow, to promote a slew of bills introduced …

About 42% of moms in Maryland prisons are single-parent breadwinners, many of whom would benefit from job-skills programs when they're released. (Wikimedia Commons)

MD Groups Urge Veto Override for Women’s Pre-release Program

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Maryland Justice Project and its partners are urging the General Assembly to override Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of a bill to …

Baltimore's Black communities are struggling to get to work after pandemic-related cuts to city's bus system scaled back service. (Wikimedia Commons)

Baltimore Transit Cuts Fight Linked to Montgomery Bus Boycott

BALTIMORE -- A Baltimore group pushing for more equitable transit policies commemorated the 64th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott with a virt…

Experts advise using compassion if the conversation veers into difficult political topics around this year's holiday dinner table. (Adobe Stock)

How to Have Tough Holiday Talks about Misinformation

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Holiday conversations can be stressful, especially in a year filled with misinformation and disinformation about the election…

More Marylanders are turning to food banks as poverty increases during the pandemic. (Maryland Food Bank)

MD Anti-Poverty Expert: Pandemic Highlights Neglect of Poor

BALTIMORE -- A Maryland author and leader of a national anti-poverty group is challenging U.S. leaders to tackle social inequities spotlighted this …

Be prepared for delays when early voting in Baltimore. As a precaution, the city will be checking temperatures at Voting Centers. (Adobe stock)

What to Expect When Voting Early in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - With only 12 days left before Election Day, early voting in Maryland starts on Monday and runs for eight consecutive days, including …

A new partnership received $400,000 in funding to begin tracking African American cultural sites in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. (Preservation Maryland)

Unique Project to Map Black History Sites in Chesapeake Bay Region

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - A new multi-state partnership aims to shine a light on hidden African American history in the Chesapeake Bay area. The National …

Frederick Douglass' 1845 autobiography about life as a slave became an international bestseller, and his message rings true today as protests against racial violence continue. (Wikimedia Commons)

Honors for Frederick Douglass in an Age of Racial Reckoning

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - As racially-charged protests continue across the country, tomorrow Maryland celebrates one of the nation's first civil rights …

At least 7,000 people in Maryland jails awaiting trial have the right to vote. A coalition wants to make sure they are able to do so. (Adobe Stock)

A Push to Help Eligible Marylanders Vote, Even from Jail

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- As Election Day approaches, a coalition of voting-rights groups is urging Maryland's Board of Elections to help eligible citizens …

Residents of Washington, D.C., have no voting representation in Congress, despite paying the highest federal taxes per capita in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. House Votes on Historic D.C. Statehood Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Spurred on by recent anti-racism protests around the country, today the U.S. House is voting to make the District of Columbia the 5…

Maryland's largest county has joined at least 20 other cities and counties in declaring racism a public health crisis. (Adobe Stock)

MD County Declares Racism a Public Health Crisis

SILVER SPRING, Md. - As protests against George Floyd's death at the hands of a police officer continue a national reckoning with inequality…

Protesters gather outside the burning Minneapolis 3rd Police precinct on May 28, 2020. (Wikimedia Commons)

Police Accused of Violence Have History of Complaints

By Jill McCorkel for The Conversation Broadcast version by Diane Bernard for Maryland News Connection Reporting for The Conversation-Public News Servi…

Thousands of Marylanders still haven't received mail-in ballots, just four days away from the state's June 2 presidential primary election. (Adobe Stock)

Late Mail-in Ballots Jeopardize MD Primary Election

BALTIMORE - Delays of mail-in ballots from Maryland's Board of Elections are threatening the statewide presidential primary on Tuesday, according to …

Latinos have the highest rate of COVID-19 infection of any race or ethnic group in Maryland, according to the Maryland Department of Health. (Wikimedia Commons)

MD Latinos Devastated by COVID-19 to Get Assistance

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The coronavirus pandemic is hitting the Latino community particularly hard across the nation, and in Maryland, Latino residents in …

Maryland officials released 200 juveniles from detention centers during the coronavirus pandemic. (Adobe stock)

Cut in MD Youth Detention During Pandemic Lowers Racial Disparities

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Youth detention in Maryland is down by nearly a third since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, matching a national trend. A new survey …

Maryland officials need to do more to protect the state's prison population during the COVID-19 outbreak, according to the Maryland ACLU. (Adobe stock)

ACLU: Use of Md. Prison Labor for Protective Gear Neglects Lives

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Public Health experts are calling for states to take extra precautions for prison populations during the coronavirus outbreak…

Foot traffic in American Chinatowns has dropped more than 50 percent since January over fears of contracting the coronavirus. (Adobe stock)

Coronavirus Fears Lead to Attacks on Asian-Americans Across U.S.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Nationwide panic over the coronavirus has sparked a rise in racist incidents against Asian-Americans in the United States. In a …

Many prison-reform groups say solitary confinement is torture while corrections officials say it's a valuable safety tool. (Adobe stock)

MD Bills Seen as First Step to Ending Solitary Confinement

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Addressing concerns over the impact of solitary confinement, Maryland lawmakers are looking at two bills introduced this week aimed …

Maryland joins a growing number of states that have enacted

MD’s New 'Ban-the-Box' Law Extends Fair Chance at Jobs

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A new ban-the-box law that aims to help formerly incarcerated people avoid employment discrimination starts Saturday in Maryland…

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MD: Social Justice