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| Inmate Transfer Proposal Clears Hurdle in Md. Senate |
| By Towson Times |
| Published: 03/18/2003 |
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A bill that would help alleviate overcrowding at the Baltimore County (Md.) Detention Center by allowing the transfer of inmates to other counties is a little closer to becoming law. Senate Bill 46, sponsored by Sens. Andrew Harris and James Brochin and co-sponsored by Sen. Larry Haines, is expected to be assigned to the House Judiciary Committee and should receive a hearing in March. The Senate passed the bill on Feb. 12 by a vote of 36-11. Of the eight senators who represent Baltimore County, only Delores Kelley voted against the bill. Harris, a Republican who represented Towson last year before redistricting, and Brochin, a Democrat who now represents Towson, each introduced bills designed to help the county reduce the number of inmates at the county detention center. Brochin's bill contained language that would specifically prevent the county from transferring inmates from other counties into the detention center. Brochin withdrew his effort after Harris agreed to add similar language as an amendment to his bill. The compromise received support from the county executive and the county Senate delegation and approval from the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. But Brochin admitted that his amendment could make passage in the House a crap shoot. Sen. Philip Jimeno, a Democrat who represents Anne Arundel County, argued against the bill during debate in the Senate. Jimeno, who voted for the bill last year, said he was concerned about the amendment that exempts Baltimore County from taking in prisoners. Harris agreed that the amendment 'makes the road more difficult.' 'There's a real possibility that the House would take the amendment off and send it back to the Senate,' Harris said. Stripping out the amendment would make SB 46 virtually identical to the bill sponsored by Harris last year. That bill was overwhelmingly approved by the General Assembly but vetoed by Gov. Parris Glendening. If the amendment is removed, the Senate would have to decide to accept the change or work on a compromise with House leaders. Harris said he believes that the Senate would accept the changes. Harris, who has not had and conversations about the bill with Gov. Robert Ehrlich, said he believes that if the bill is passed this year it will become law. 'It's good sound policy,' he said. 'It should have been signed last year.' In the House, Del. William Frank withdrew his inmate transfer bill after Senate approved SB 46. Frank said he pulled his legislation in order to prevent confusion. '(SB 46) is a better bill,' Frank said. Current Maryland law allows local jurisdictions to accept inmates from the state and federal prison systems but does not allow agreements between counties. Some believe other counties, mostly in western Maryland and on the Eastern Shore, could benefit from the bill because they view the building of detention centers as an economic development tool because of the jobs those facilities create. |
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