Governor Paterson and Maryland Governor O'Malley Announce Joint Crime-Fighting Initiative

Press Release

Governor David A. Paterson and Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley today announced a joint crime-fighting initiative in which the states will share arrest data on a daily basis so each state can track its parolees and probationers. Under the initiative, New York officials will be able to promptly determine if an individual under its supervision is arrested in Maryland, and Maryland officials will be able to promptly determine if an individual on parole or probation in that state is arrested in New York.

"Through this initiative, our parole and probation officers, as well as those in Maryland, will know almost immediately when an individual under their supervision has been arrested," Governor Paterson said. "I am pleased that this initiative will enhance public safety in both states, and provide additional tools and vital information to our law enforcement officials and their counterparts in Maryland."

"Breaking down the barriers of information sharing has been critical to our efforts in reducing violent crime throughout Maryland over the last three years," Maryland Governor O'Malley said. "Our top priority is public safety. Whether it is with local law enforcement, or states sharing our border, sharing arrest data on our worst offenders makes our state safer. And today, we are extending that effort to New York."

Under a Memorandum of Understanding between the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), the states will share information electronically "for the purpose of automating the identification of offenders under supervision who are arrested in Maryland and New York."

DCJS Commissioner Sean M. Byrne said: "Everyone, criminals included, is more mobile these days, and through this initiative we are sending a message to probationers and parolees who flee this State and commit crimes in Maryland: You can run, but you cannot hide. I commend Governor Paterson and Governor O'Malley for their efforts on this initiative."

Previously, a parole or probation officer in one of the states would not necessarily know that an individual under his or her supervision had been arrested in the other state without a time-consuming search of criminal record databases. Under the New York-Maryland initiative, this information will be relayed automatically on a daily basis.

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