Prince George's County Corrections proposes roughly $101.7 million FY2026 budget; vacancies remain a priority

The Prince George's County Health and Human Services and Public Safety Committee reviewed the Department of Corrections' proposed fiscal year 2026 budget on April 21, 2025.

David Williams, budget analyst with the Budget and Policy Analysis Division, said the department's proposed total for FY26 is approximately $101,700,000, a decrease of $11,390,000 (about 1.4%) from FY25. Williams said the department is primarily funded from the county general fund; grant funds make up roughly 0.2% of the proposed budget. He presented a general breakdown that included proposed compensation of about $52,400,000, fringe benefits of $28,300,000, operating expenses of $19,700,000 and capital outlays of $226,500; overtime was listed at approximately $11,800,000.

Director Clark, head of the Department of Corrections, told the committee the department manages pretrial defendants and sentenced individuals serving terms of 18 months or less. Clark said the jail facility has 18 housing units and a capacity of 1,524 individuals and that programming includes drug treatment, cosmetology and barbering classes, library services and other programs intended to support reentry.

The department reported a sworn vacancy rate of 36.5%, a civilian vacancy rate of 40.6% and an overall vacancy rate of 37.5%. Williams said the staffing complement is unchanged from the previous fiscal year; OMB Director Stanley Early told the committee that while vacancies remain a major challenge they have improved over the last year and the department has reversed a prior decline in corrections officer staffing.

Director Clark and his leadership team identified critical operational issues including facility maintenance, overcrowding and succession planning. Williams noted the department anticipates acquiring one Toyota Camry (estimated cost $46,000) and said there are no other major equipment or IT initiatives planned. Major contracts for the incarcerated population include medical, food and tablet services.

Council members and committee staff praised recent recruitment and retention efforts; Vice Chair Fisher and others said they had attended graduating classes for new correctional officers. Councilmember Watson and other members thanked the department for its work.

Councilmember questions included where released individuals are transported on release. A Corrections representative said released individuals are provided transportation and are taken to the metro station.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the department's budget at the April 21 meeting. The presentation and discussion focused on vacancy trends, operational pressures and programmatic offerings for those in custody and for reentry services.

Clarifying details: Proposed FY26 total (approx.): $101,700,000; year-over-year change: -$11,390,000 (-1.4%); compensation: ~$52,400,000; fringe: ~$28,300,000; operating: ~$19,700,000; capital: ~$226,500; overtime: ~$11,800,000; facility capacity: 1,524 beds; sworn staff: 326; civilian staff: 122; sworn vacancy rate: 36.5%; civilian vacancy rate: 40.6%; overall vacancy rate: 37.5%; proposed vehicle acquisition: 1 Toyota Camry, est. $46,000.

Speakers: [ {"name":"David Williams","role_title":"Budget Analyst, Budget and Policy Analysis Division","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Director Clark","role_title":"Director, Department of Corrections","affiliation_type":"government","affiliation_name":"Prince George's County Department of Corrections"},{"name":"Rodney Brackenbrau","role_title":"Deputy Director, Bureau of Operations, Department of Corrections","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Jonathan Oroco","role_title":"Division Chief, Support Services, Department of Corrections","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Blanche Carney","role_title":"Associate Director, Office of Professional Responsibility & Legal Affairs (HR), Department of Corrections","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Melvanna Walker","role_title":"Acting Assistant Division Chief, Support Services, Department of Corrections","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Dr. Meske","role_title":"Program Services (audience) representative","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Dr. Bierstadt","role_title":"Program Services (audience) representative","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Dr. Kokernam","role_title":"Community Release Center representative","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Stanley Early","role_title":"Director, Office of Management and Budget","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Vice Chair Fisher","role_title":"Vice Chair, HHSPS Committee","affiliation_type":"government"},{"name":"Councilmember Watson","role_title":"Member, HHSPS Committee","affiliation_type":"government"} ],

authorities:[{"type":"other","name":"Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards (accreditation)","referenced_by":["Director Clark"]}],

actions:[],

discussion_decision:{"discussion_points":["Overall FY26 budget decrease and line-item breakdown","High sworn and civilian vacancy rates and recent improvement in recruitment","Facility capacity (1,524) and programming for incarcerated individuals","Operational issues: facility maintenance, overcrowding, succession planning","Transportation of released individuals to the metro station"],"directions":[],"decisions":[]},

clarifying_details:[{"category":"budget_total","detail":"Proposed FY26 total (approx.)","value":"101700000","units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"David Williams"},{"category":"vacancy_rates","detail":"Sworn, civilian and overall vacancy rates","value":"36.5/40.6/37.5","units":"percent","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"David Williams"},{"category":"facility_capacity","detail":"Jail facility capacity and housing units","value":"1524","units":"beds","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Director Clark"},{"category":"staff_counts","detail":"Sworn and civilian staff counts","value":"326 sworn, 122 civilian","units":"people","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Director Clark"},{"category":"vehicle_acquisition","detail":"Planned vehicle acquisition","value":"1 Toyota Camry","units":"unit","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"David Williams"}],

proper_names:[{"name":"Prince George's County Department of Corrections","type":"agency"},{"name":"Community Release Center","type":"facility"},{"name":"Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards","type":"other"}],

community_relevance:{"geographies":["Prince George's County"],"funding_sources":["County general fund"],"impact_groups":["incarcerated individuals","reentry populations","corrections staff"]},

meeting_context:{"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":12,"duration_minutes":40,"items_count":1},"implementation_risk":"high","history":[{"date":"FY2025","note":"Department reported prior decline in corrections staffing; committee heard that recruitment has recently improved."}]},

searchable_tags:["Department of Corrections","budget","FY2026","vacancies","reentry","capacity"],

salience:{"overall":0.65,"overall_justification":"Large county budget for corrections with operational and staffing implications for public safety and reentry services.","impact_scope":"local","impact_scope_justification":"Directly affects county facility operations and public safety.","attention_level":"high","attention_level_justification":"Vacancy rates, overcrowding and overtime have public-safety and budget impacts.","novelty":0.25,"novelty_justification":"Annual budget; notable for vacancy and operational issues.","timeliness_urgency":0.60,"timeliness_urgency_justification":"FY26 budget affects staffing and operations in the coming year.","legal_significance":0.10,"legal_significance_justification":"No new statutory changes were presented.","budgetary_significance":0.70,"budgetary_significance_justification":"$101.7M department budget has significant county fiscal implications.","public_safety_risk":0.60,"public_safety_risk_justification":"Staffing shortages and overcrowding can affect safety and operations."},

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