Despite significant challenges with violence and staffing, Maryland's Division of Correction operates a range of educational, vocational, and pre-release programs aimed at reducing recidivism and preparing incarcerated people for successful reentry. Understanding what is available — and how to access it — helps families support their loved ones in using their time productively and positioning for a more stable release.
Educational Programs
Maryland state prisons provide educational programming at all facilities, including:
- GED preparation and testing: Maryland has committed to providing GED access at all state correctional facilities. The GED is the single highest-return educational credential in a prison setting — it directly improves post-release employment prospects and often qualifies graduates for additional programming.
- Adult basic education (ABE): For inmates who do not yet have the literacy and numeracy foundation for GED preparation, ABE programs provide foundational skills.
- College education partnerships: DPSCS has partnered with community colleges and four-year institutions to offer in-person and distance college courses to eligible inmates at selected facilities. The federal Pell Grant restoration in 2023 — which reinstated Pell eligibility for incarcerated people — dramatically expanded access to college programming in Maryland and nationally.
Vocational Training
Vocational training programs at Maryland prisons teach specific trades that have direct labor market value after release. Available programs vary by facility but have included:
- Building trades (carpentry, electrical, plumbing)
- Auto repair and automotive technology
- Culinary arts and food service
- Computer literacy and IT fundamentals
- Barbering and cosmetology (at women's facilities)
Vocational certificates earned in prison are marketable credentials that do not indicate incarceration on their face — they simply certify competency in a trade.
Substance Abuse Treatment
DPSCS operates substance abuse treatment programs at multiple facilities through its Behavioral Health Services division. Given that substance use disorders are implicated in a significant proportion of Maryland incarcerations, access to structured treatment — particularly programs that continue medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder — is among the highest-impact programming DPSCS offers for reducing recidivism.
Inquire with the facility's treatment coordinator about available programs and waitlist status. MAT (methadone, buprenorphine) should be continued without interruption for anyone receiving it at the time of incarceration — if your loved one was on MAT before arrest, ensure the medical unit is aware immediately at intake.
Pre-Release and Work Release
Maryland operates several Pre-Release Units (PRUs) — community-based transitional facilities for people approaching the end of their sentence. PRUs bridge the gap between prison and full release by providing structured housing, programming, employment support, and supervised reentry preparation. Eligibility is based on sentence remaining, security classification, and institutional record.
The Work Release Program allows eligible inmates at PRUs and minimum-security facilities to leave during the day for employment, returning in the evening. Wages earned in work release are subject to deductions for room and board and victim compensation, with the balance going to the inmate. Work release dramatically improves the immediate financial stability of people leaving prison and provides employment history and references.
Supporting Program Participation
The most effective thing a family member can do to encourage programming participation is ask about it — consistently, in every call and visit. Ask whether your loved one has enrolled in GED preparation, whether they are on a vocational training waitlist, whether they are getting substance abuse treatment. Many people in prison do not seek out programming unless someone they care about is asking. Family encouragement has a documented effect on program participation rates.
DPSCS Division of Correction programming information: dpscs.maryland.gov/corrections. Main line: (410) 339-5000.