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Problem‑solving courts expand across Maryland; federal funding constraints noted
Summary
The Specialty Courts and Dockets Committee reported 73 active problem‑solving court programs with 1,661 participants and 483 completions this year; members discussed BJA federal funding limits and local pilot screening models to avoid violent‑offender prohibitions.
Judge Kimberly M. Davis, chair of the Specialty Courts and Dockets Committee, reported to the Judicial Council on Nov. 13, 2024, that Maryland has 73 Problem‑Solving Court (PSC) programs with 1,661 active participants and 483 successful completions during the year.
The committee has approved six new PSC programs since December 2023 and is developing a truancy court pilot in Frederick County. Gray Barton, Director of PSC, described the annual bilingual participant survey used to measure perceptions of fairness and procedural justice and said survey feedback informs program adjustments. The PSC is also piloting the Risk and Need Tool (RANT) in three jurisdictions with the assistance of Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant funding.
Officials discussed a recurring funding constraint: some federal grants prohibit funding programs that serve violent offenders. That limitation complicates eligibility screening for PSC participants; Anne Arundel County’s locally funded pilot, which is not subject to federal restrictions, was highlighted as a model to broaden participation based on needs rather than charge severity.
The committee noted upcoming training and a Problem‑Solving Courts Symposium scheduled for Nov. 20–21, 2024, in Towson. The Specialty Courts and Dockets Committee will continue to evaluate funding options, pilot screening approaches, and data collection to improve program reach and outcomes.
