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Bill

HB 775

Correctional Services - Death of Incarcerated Individual - Notification

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Arentz and 11 co-sponsors

Maryland requires correctional facilities to notify emergency contacts within 2 hours of an inmate's death and report deaths to medical examiners, establishing transparent documentation of in-custody fatalities.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 109
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Bill Summary · HB 775

Legislative bill overview

HB 775 requires Maryland correctional facilities to notify designated emergency contacts within 2 hours of an incarcerated individual's death, and mandates notification to the state medical examiner and law enforcement. The bill also establishes procedures for documenting and reporting these deaths, including preliminary and final reports with specific information about the circumstances.

Why is this important

Deaths in correctional custody raise public accountability and transparency concerns. This law ensures families learn of deaths promptly rather than through delayed or indirect channels, and creates a formal documentation system that can support investigations, identify patterns, and provide clarity on causes of death in state facilities.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation burden: Facilities must establish and maintain current emergency contact information for all inmates, which requires administrative infrastructure and ongoing updates
  • Information scope debates: Questions may arise about what level of detail is appropriate to share with families before investigations are complete, balancing transparency with investigative integrity
  • Applicability gaps: The bill may not clearly address deaths occurring during transport, at outside medical facilities, or for individuals without listed emergency contacts, creating inconsistent notification standards

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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