[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6603624,"mediaKeyId","2999876-1c1273d1bb1ac051ab60c867b4ba09fd","parentId",2999876,"title","Police brief: FY26 budget, staffing pressures and crime trends dominate HHSVS discussion","audioSeconds",154,"startMs",2822000,"endMs",2976000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2999876-1c1273d1bb1ac051ab60c867b4ba09fd&start=2822&end=2976","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2999876-1c1273d1bb1ac051ab60c867b4ba09fd/thumbnail_2822000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6603624/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Police-brief-FY26-budget-staffing-pressures-and-crime-trends-dominate-HHSVS-discussion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603624-00e942c10d93375dd96f98aaf73ebd4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771023491&Signature=h8n4SNR9V4jfgOOAcY-ucNI4kGzDNcjUwT0J8QUcPPM9RpKuDDTT4uBEKB3wGpWFWOSfBKHFT4vHxn~ipcrzAnZ3wF78kpWlaARbU5urm3lxGB14dbaZ2tuMMv75T3U9eH6FBkwg045qa-SGOsG2PAkU9E6ZfLuJR74bdVlw~keWfI8LL4B3sBQI00RzkE00MNpJnOzj4md6rIZ7TkG9Tk7fgYXxO7EGAwqJjBf8b-DdETbpOPVZNhGntqhfZ~-Kbbwywj~fSAxeCdb3~Okh5d-Jn8g4NtW63vKYCsqdD24V1mwOLgRhTXeIcwdZe7~tIljJdYmAfIU2yL8Dwnob6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Prince George","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Prince George’s County Police Department presented its FY26 budget overview and operational briefing to the county HHSVS committee, reporting a proposed total department budget of about $439.7 million and flagging staffing shortfalls, equipment replacement needs and crime‑fighting programs.

County budget staff told the committee the department’s FY26 total proposed budget is roughly $439.7 million, with the general fund comprising about 96.5% of the total. The budget analyst noted the department’s sworn vacancy rate was about 19% at the time of the presentation and that civilian vacancy rates also were elevated.

Chief Malik Aziz (introduced as Chief Aziz during the meeting) and senior staff reviewed staffing trends and operations. The department reported that applications to become sworn officers have declined substantially since the 2010s and that attrition and retirements remain a concern; the presentation listed about 20% of sworn personnel as eligible to retire in the near term. Chief Aziz said the department has established a Real Time Crime Center, opened a new forensics lab and formed a consolidated gun‑crimes unit in 2024.

On crime trends, department slides presented to the committee showed decreases in many categories in 2024 and through 2025 year‑to‑date: homicide counts were down slightly year‑over‑year and several violent‑crime categories were reported as declining in the most recent data. The department also reported continued high volumes of vehicle‑related thefts and described ongoing gun recoveries; Chief Aziz said gun‑recovery activity remains a major emphasis.

The police have shifted patrol schedules from a 10‑hour rotation to a 12‑hour model to better manage limited staffing. Deputy Chief James McCreery said officers who work 12‑hour shifts have more consecutive days off but that the department continues to provide wellness and sleep‑health guidance for shift workers; the department said the change was recommended by outside staffing studies.

Council members asked about recruitment incentives and place‑based policing programs. The department said it offers a $10,000 hiring bonus for new recruits and $15,000 for experienced lateral officers under the current contract and that it is competing for recruits against neighboring jurisdictions that sometimes offer larger incentives or broader benefit packages. Chief Aziz and deputies described “hex”‑based enforcement and quarterly crime reduction plans that redeploy investigators and patrol resources to small geographic focus zones.

Community and victim services were also a topic. The department said it recently hired a dedicated victim services coordinator (Ney Archie) who works with the Family Justice Center and community partners. Chief Aziz highlighted a range of community programs run by the department’s Community First division, including youth summer programming, Police Athletic League activities and a schools‑to‑careers explorer program.

Ending: The committee asked police leaders for additional detail on equipment replacement needs, overtime drivers and recruitment approaches; county budget staff said they prioritized maintaining public safety services in the FY26 proposal and would continue to work with the department on capital and personnel needs.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Prince George - Health, Human Services and Public Safety Committee - Budget Work-session: Office of the State’s Attorney, Police Department, Social Services - Apr 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Prince George’s County Police Department presented a FY26 operating request (about $439.7M total) and described continuing staffing challenges, a 19% sworn vacancy rate, a shift to 12‑hour schedules and targeted crime‑reduction initiatives; police leaders also flagged vehicle crime and gun recoveries as ongoing issues.","taxTitle","Prince George's County, Maryland","taxId",3378,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603629,"Social Services warns of grant risk, highlights kin‑first placements and homeless‑system gaps in FY26 briefing",503,2328000,2831000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2999876-1c1273d1bb1ac051ab60c867b4ba09fd&start=2328&end=2831","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2999876-1c1273d1bb1ac051ab60c867b4ba09fd/thumbnail_2328000.jpg","/articles/6603629/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Social-Services-warns-of-grant-risk-highlights-kinfirst-placements-and-homelesssystem-gaps-in-FY26-briefing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603629-32d7203b6abcb6348182f3fc840d594e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771023491&Signature=KAUURwUoS5K7u~X1C1ELYQpbP0Np6mvjXZjEnqlmfv36PZ9QT8XMIqM597nhqYTzW4LS~1FhiGOBg1IdceQNF1gFPmRPrmiMpNEM6s6zz-CBJoPCRmbFJf1XQHVI~IlJ3kl2fuevrMfXJWxuM4X-KnIsxz8SoTSvuCPPPQCAvYkfdQGN~B2J4d6KIwOgb3dK~Vp3MICXH5Hx0ZbEbEIVCm8e8wO041zvHWpjSEztNXw9ffh32s4~5jQfgK2uPVv5Mu8-P0TnH3c11N9iT1f0cIMYLX5gQSo1KcSzrP9NxcG40EQP1yLOfrB3B5cep1ODCSPlIHGPq1wD7Yy8paBc-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prince George’s County Department of Social Services officials told the HHSVS committee their FY26 county budget portion totals about $29,720,000 and that the department’s overall budget, including state‑funded personnel, is larger.

Council budget staff reported that the department’s total FY26 budget inclusive of direct state funds is about $76.5 million, with roughly $46.2 million coming from the state. The presentation to the committee focused on the county portion of funding and noted that roughly two‑thirds of the department’s personnel costs are paid through state funding that does not appear in the county operating budget.

Director Steven Leggett Creel (as introduced at the meeting) described a series of programmatic priorities and operational pressures. He and budget analyst David Noto emphasized two structural risks: (1) a high share of limited‑term, grant‑funded positions that have elevated turnover; and (2) potential changes to the federal‑to‑state funding flows the department uses as matching funds. Noto said the county portion of the department’s budget for FY26 is a modest decrease from FY25 (a decrease presented as $280,400 in the analyst’s slides).

The department highlighted several program developments and operational items: a renewed partnership with Bowie State University to recruit social work interns; launch of a voluntary income tax assistance pilot in a South County office to help benefit recipients claim available tax credits; and a kin‑first licensing and placement practice for children in foster care. Director Creel said kin placements rose from 16% of placements in 2024 to 48% in the first three months of 2025 after the county implemented the kin‑first model.

On homelessness, the department presented a homeless‑system inventory and noted it maintains an emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing continuum with a total of about 448 emergency shelter beds at any given time and approximately 380 permanent supportive housing beds. Staff described a small street outreach team of four grant‑funded positions and emphasized the networked nature of outreach — the department relies on partner nonprofits, law enforcement, mobile crisis teams and municipalities to identify and serve people living outdoors across the county’s wide geography.

Council members pressed the department on the vulnerability of grant‑funded positions if federal or state funding shifts occur. Director Creel and budget staff said they are monitoring proposed changes closely but that specifics remain unclear. The department advised council members it is developing prioritization plans should grant revenue or state‑funded personnel levels decline.

Ending: Committee members asked for follow‑up materials on homeless bed types, exact bed counts by facility, and contingency plans for potential grant funding reductions; the department said it will provide those details to council offices for continued review.","Department leaders told the HHSVS committee the county portion of the Department of Social Services FY26 budget is about $29.72 million, with large portions of program staffing and operations funded by state and federal sources. Staff flagged grant risks, high turnover in limited‑term grant positions, and gaps in shelter capacity and outreach.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603634,"Circuit Court seeks funding for security and operations as caseloads rise",319,1601000,1920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2999876-1c1273d1bb1ac051ab60c867b4ba09fd&start=1601&end=1920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2999876-1c1273d1bb1ac051ab60c867b4ba09fd/thumbnail_1601000.jpg","/articles/6603634/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Circuit-Court-seeks-funding-for-security-and-operations-as-caseloads-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603634-f64ac957a9ac30ed75178655286474e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771023491&Signature=Zu~WJmb1lw-sSeF4De~9VC~1n4n2ou9Ab0ju9YoMtvn1CaBjRAVaf15lD-9IVePHKZIn0XySODDHdUBh~2KoqHLhrdLcxWonV48kIqU3Ne-Rskx1XJv78Qq69HXw2b4F7ywf6Z41HX4xKrlBhsobkrYCYQ~JuE9h9E3uX0dszJNqiq9ze4-MYRDKAgJXRWhz4gCQzno275GilFJvHT~97vQs6xnxiKcwl3yWgMaW8LB2tcOWKFAgPGVRpIcNkhcwGCOp377SEaNL9ibibZYwImwMWIqQt35SxMK95BQYPwUv8wx~tUrqiXt568JyGmpWyU0cT4m-1BtS48w8DG4iMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prince George’s County Circuit Court officials told the county HHSVS committee their proposed FY26 budget is roughly $28.9 million and highlighted courthouse security and rising caseloads as top concerns.

Roger Benagos, the council budget analyst for the court, said the proposed FY26 budget represents an increase of about $1.43 million (5.0%) over FY25. He and the court’s administrative judge described a mix of general fund and grant funding and noted capital and technology needs tied to cameras, cell‑block surveillance and other courthouse security projects.

Administrative Judge Danica Varner Cotton told council members the Circuit Court is one of the county’s busiest public buildings, hosting thousands of visitors each month and serving as a civic access point for divorces, child support, landlord‑tenant and other civil matters. \"Our court really has a vital place in our community,\" Judge Cotton said, describing the court as a \"beacon\" where residents seek legal relief.

Court staff told the committee the court’s caseload has increased in recent years: total filings rose from roughly 39,612 cases (FY22) to an estimated 51,120 in FY26 under current projections. Benagos and court staff said the court uses visiting and retired judges to cover workload but that three judicial seats remained vacant at the time of the presentation.

The court also reported staffing numbers and vacancies. Benagos noted the proposed FY26 budget includes 30 vacant positions of which 22 are full‑time funded positions; some full‑time positions remain unfunded. The court has also moved to complete several capital improvement and security projects, including installation of armed security barriers and additional cameras.

Judge Cotton said security remains a high priority and that courthouse security is funded by the court in coordination with the sheriff’s office and the court’s IT department. “We confiscate weapons daily,” she told the committee, asking members for continued help on capital needs tied to security.

County budget staff said the administration had worked closely with the court and that additional capital shortfalls were under review; the county budget office said it was exploring whether unspent capital funds this year could be reallocated.

Ending: Court leaders asked the committee to prioritize security and capital funding as the council finalizes county budget decisions; no formal vote was taken during the presentation.","Prince George’s County Circuit Court administrators told the HHSVS committee the court’s FY26 proposed budget is approximately $28.9 million and flagged continued security needs, rising caseloads and several judicial vacancies.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603638,"Prince George’s County HHSVS committee reviews State’s Attorney’s $30.8M FY26 proposal, highlights staffing and digital evidence costs",278,277000,555000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2999876-1c1273d1bb1ac051ab60c867b4ba09fd&start=277&end=555","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2999876-1c1273d1bb1ac051ab60c867b4ba09fd/thumbnail_277000.jpg","/articles/6603638/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Prince-Georges-County-HHSVS-committee-reviews-States-Attorneys-308M-FY26-proposal-highlights-staffing-and-digital-evidence-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603638-9c63a586d4cd5c7b0965c30e9db835b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771023491&Signature=mp0Bp-1jcsl1ijbAgYlxsMPZtnxqq48CR0NyHNOIZZZX8CnSAtNUaASxS4XtLnRXea-2ledvZuC3dDKHikUKGqygprpDGl~KRXzwvsXXddSUr~~encA7KUgCppZBaBk9LGjOjUIZKvjiaScVCsE8rojQHnVNcOnuUY7yEvJ9YGACr6LagACgRFru-sS8ljX5-~YgLN1JjY0FD6QgwxwLlpO4eQ9DjX6fjyKxaogfOJbPBglsYzWoCXGlWfhI2~WXpFCGv32viRJ~6qFkEaH-Mvgx-pHL21zqQTV-rASiI3YBkQIAGGu6VaXd4nxjgkazyhW9~99a8k6RIYPd~GByCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prince George’s County officials on Monday reviewed the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget for the Office of the State’s Attorney, which county staff described as approximately $30,800,000.

The proposed budget preserves a recently adopted salary schedule for assistant state’s attorneys and requests additional operating funds to hire and retain legal assistants, victim‑witness coordinators and administrative staff, State’s Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy told the Health, Human Services, and Public Safety (HHSVS) committee.

Braveboy said the new salary schedule — approved earlier this year — is “historic” for the county because it lets the office be more competitive with neighboring jurisdictions and federal positions. “It allows us to be more competitive, allows us to attract and retain, and also, as I like to say, reclaim those who were once in our office who now are in a position to wanna come back,” Braveboy said.

The office asked the committee to fully fund the salary schedule and requested more support staff to ease the workload on prosecutors. Principal Deputy Jason Abbott told the committee assistant state attorneys currently shoulder much of the digital discovery work and that legal assistants and expanded victim‑witness staffing would allow attorneys to focus on trials and motions. Abbott said the conviction and sentencing integrity unit has only two staff and would need additional positions if Maryland’s so‑called “second look” legislation becomes law and triggers a larger caseload of petitions.

Budget staff told the committee the office’s FY26 proposal “represents an increase” from FY25. David Williams, a county budget analyst, noted the fiscal package includes general fund and grant components and flagged IT initiatives and storage as cost drivers.

Braveboy also described a $500,000 earmark secured with federal lawmakers’ support that funded the purchase of NICE Justice, a digital evidence management system. She told council members the transition to fully digital discovery is creating large long‑term storage costs for both the state’s attorney’s office and the police department and said the county will need to consider how to finance and house that capacity going forward.

The office requested continued funding for four long‑running temporary positions that currently are filled through a county temporary‑staff contract; Braveboy said those four positions cost about $253,050 per year and function as legal assistants and administrative aides. The office also submitted a larger ranked list of additional complement requests that total a larger amount if fully funded, she said.

Committee members pressed on priorities. Vice Chair Wanika Fisher and others said victim‑witness staffing appeared to be the next highest need after full funding of the salary schedule. In response, Deborah Anderson (budget director, State’s Attorney’s Office) told the committee the office has eight permanent victim‑witness coordinators and about eight grant‑funded coordinators; one federal grant noted in the discussion was the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant.

David Williams and county budget staff said the administration had prioritized public safety in the proposed county budget and moved to implement much of the salary schedule within fiscal constraints.

The office’s specific staffing and operating requests presented to the committee included (per the office): full funding of a newly adopted ASA salary schedule, several additional legal assistant and victim‑witness coordinator positions, funding to continue temporary staff used year‑to‑year, and additional storage and IT funding tied to NICE Justice.

Braveboy and her deputies emphasized they will continue to pursue grant funding for specific programs such as reentry and emerging adult initiatives; Braveboy cited grants used to support emerging adult programming and noted a second annual conference on women and girls in the justice system scheduled for May 14.

The committee did not take a recorded vote on the office’s request during this session. The state’s attorney’s presentation and the budget analyst’s slides will be part of the ongoing budget review process.

Ending: The HHSVS committee moved on to other agency budget presentations after roughly an hour of discussion with the state’s attorney’s team; committee members signaled support for the salary schedule and asked staff to return with more precise cost items and options for addressing the digital evidence storage issue.","State’s Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy told the council committee the FY26 proposed budget is about $30.8 million and prioritized fully funding a newly adopted salary schedule, hiring support staff and paying for growing digital evidence storage tied to NICE Justice software.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Police brief: FY26 budget, staffing pressures and crime trends dominate HHSVS discussion

Social Services warns of grant risk, highlights kin‑first placements and homeless‑system gaps in FY26 briefing

Circuit Court seeks funding for security and operations as caseloads rise

Prince George’s County HHSVS committee reviews State’s Attorney’s $30.8M FY26 proposal, highlights staffing and digital evidence costs