Carolyn J. Scruggs, Secretary to the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, responded Somerset County Commissioner President Charles Lairds’ letter which requested three specific issues be addressed to correct staffing shortfalls at Eastern Correctional Institution.
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Dear President Laird:
Thank you for the letter and I very much appreciate you taking the time to bring these concerns to me directly. While we may have different perspectives on how to address the staffing issues at the Eastern Correctional Institution (ECI), we both agree that the health and safety of our correctional officers, staff, and incarcerated individuals is of the highest priority.
I am a dedicated public servant with 33 years of experience working for the State of Maryland, which includes having served through the ranks, directly in several facilities, from officer and a Warden. Throughout my career, my guiding principle has remained the same: prioritizing the welfare, safety, and support of my staff to build a strong, effective organization. I share your passion and concern for the men and women who valiantly serve at ECI and understand they are your constituents, as they are mine.
Since 2021, DPSCS has submitted quarterly hiring and attrition reports to the House Appropriations and Senate Budget and Taxation Committees that provides statistical information on overall hiring and vacancies as well as the Department's ongoing recruitment strategies. My administration has been conducting media campaigns and hiring fairs to recruit, coupled with continuous overhaul of all components within the Department's Human Resources Division. Additionally, we have a new Commissioner of Correction Keith Dickens, appointed during the 2026 legislative session. I personally nominated Commissioner Dickens for this role because he is the right person to address these immediate and critical needs in the East. With Monika Brittingham appointed as the new Warden, her experience is invaluable having ascended throughout her career at ECI.
When I started as the Secretary in 2023, the Department had a nearly 17% vacancy rate and is now under 10% but we have more work to do in the East to shore up staffing. As you know, it is a very challenging region of the State to recruit and sustain employment while ensuring the Department is hiring correctional officers that meet the highest standards of conduct established.
Return the Hiring Process to the Correctional Facilities
During my time as a correctional officer, recruitment was conducted in part by the correctional facilities with support, guidance, and oversight by the headquarters Department. On July 28, 2026, I gave a direct order to the Department's Human Resources Division to develop and implement a plan to conduct local hiring at each facility. This grants Wardens direct input into hiring at their respective facilities, ensuring local control with central oversight. This will include placing human resources personnel back into the facilities, a practice that was beneficial during my tenure in uniform, thus allowing coordination and communication with facility leaders and staff, and a direct line of communication with the Wardens. This transition will become effective August 19, 2026.
It is important to note; facility staff are already empowered to assist with recruiting in their local communities as the Department offers $500 referral bonuses for prospective candidates. Additionally, ECI has its own Talent Acquisition person who lives in your community. She has been actively recruiting at ECI since 2021.
Reduce the Time Frame of the Hiring Process Which is Currently as Much as a Year or More
The hiring process does not take as much as a year or more. If this were the case, the Department's vacancy rate would not be under 10%.
Once a prospective candidate submits their background paperwork, it generally takes 30-45 business days to complete the background investigative process. Currently, the average processing time has been reduced to 27 business days. Furthermore, candidates engaged at hiring fairs receive interviews and conditional offers on the same day.
I welcome you to submit any examples and evidence you have so that my office can investigate.
Background investigations and Polygraph Examination be Aligned with Other State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies. and or More Stringent
Since October 1, 2015, Correctional Services Article 3-215 requires the Department to administer polygraph examinations to prospective candidates. A legislative change would be required to alter the law. Furthermore, the Department and other legislators have unsuccessfully made this attempt in prior years.
The standards for polygraph examinations are not more stringent than State and local law enforcement agencies. The Department utilizes the standardized two-phase Law Enforcement Pre-employment Test (LEPET). This is a nationally recognized and accredited process and a very common pre-employment exam used by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additionally, it is recognized by the American Polygraph Association (APA), American Association of Police Polygraphists (AAPP), British and European Polygraph Association (BEPA), and countless others.
Every polygraph exam begins with a pre-test interview of the applicant which is critical to allow the examiner to identify areas of concern or ways to format control questions that would be tailored for the individual to retrieve the most accurate test results. Applicants are given several opportunities to pass exams.
Lastly, we must recognize that pausing all non-emergency movements carries significant security risks. Such a measure creates a volatile atmosphere that can sharply escalate facility tension, directly compromising the safety and stability of the environment for our dedicated officers. Furthermore, restricting access to essential education and programming undermines our rehabilitative mission, making it increasingly difficult for incarcerated individuals to develop the tools required for successful reintegration and positive contributions to their communities.
I hope this information is helpful. Please don't hesitate to contact myself or Jason Davidson, Director, Office of Government and Legislative Affairs, with any future issues or concerns.
Sincerely,
Carolyn J. Scruggs
