We need your help! It's time for Maryland to keep families together. Make a difference today by urging your legislators to support these bills!

Senate Bill 0021 and House Bill 337 (Criminal Procedure - Sentencing - Primary Caretaker): On any given day, 90,000 children in Maryland have a parent under some form of correctional supervision. This legislation would allow people convicted of non-violent offenses to file a motion post-conviction asking the courts to consider their primary caretaker status. This would allow primary caretakers to serve their sentences in the communities while receiving a rehabilitative service and remaining with their dependants. Passing this will would help more parents and caregivers stay connected with their children and lead to better outcomes for children

Senate Bill 0776 and House Bill 0454 (Correctional Services – Pregnancy and Postpartum Support (Prevention of Forced Infant Separation Act): In the State of Maryland, pregnant individuals who give birth while incarcerated are required to return to their correctional facility as soon as the individual is discharged from the hospital. This means that most incarcerated parents have less than 48 hours with their newborns before the baby is separated.This bill would establish a program that transfers imprisoned pregnant individuals with pre-release status and their babies to the women’s pre-release unit for up to a year post-delivery, while providing an evidence-based Healthy Start Bonding Program to support parenting and attachment.

It's time for Maryland to keep families together. It is critical that a favorable report is issued on both of these bills. Make a difference today by filling out the form and urging your legislators to support these bills!