Maryland DOJ Drops Reentry Lifeline for Ex-Cons

Baltimore, MD — The Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office has dropped a first-of-its-kind reentry weapon in the war against repeat crime: a comprehensive, statewide directory of over 1,350 services aimed at keeping recently released inmates out of lockup and off the streets for good. Announced today by U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein, the Maryland Reentry Resource List is now live online, offering a lifeline to those stepping out of state and federal prisons with nowhere to turn.

The guide — accessible at www.justice.gov/usao/md — is no feel-good brochure. It’s a tactical tool built for survival in the real world. Organized by county across all 23 Maryland jurisdictions and Baltimore City, it delivers direct links, contact info, and up-to-the-minute access to housing, job training, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and legal aid. Each listing is a potential anchor against the pull of old habits, old corners, and old crimes.

“Former prisoners may face strong temptations to return to a life of crime, and we will hold them accountable if they do,” Rosenstein said at a no-nonsense press briefing. “But we’re not just about sending people up — our mission is stopping crime before it happens. That means reaching kids in schools and giving ex-convicts real paths to stay clean.”

The initiative, backed by targeted Department of Justice funding, includes a newly hired Reentry/Prevention Specialist, Elizabeth Morse, tasked with expanding outreach and updating the list in real time. Public safety officials say coordination between federal, state, and local agencies is critical — and long overdue. Secretary Stephen T. Moyer of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services called the list “a critical step in making offenders productive members of society while achieving our most important goal: making Maryland safer.”

The resource guide isn’t just for parolees. It’s built for use by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, probation officers, social workers, and nonprofits on the front lines of recidivism. Every provider with a website includes a clickable hyperlink — no dead ends, no runaround. And if someone knows a program missing from the list, they’re told to call Elizabeth Morse directly at 410-209-4811 or email Elizabeth.Morse@usdoj.gov.

This isn’t charity. It’s strategy. With thousands cycling through Maryland’s jails every year, the state is betting that access, accountability, and a working internet connection might be the difference between a second chance and a third strike. The full list is available here. More on the U.S. Attorney General’s Reentry Initiative: https://www.justice.gov/reentry.