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HB 190

Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sandy Bartlett and 3 co-sponsors

Maryland bill creates geriatric and medical parole program allowing release of elderly, terminally ill, or permanently incapacitated prisoners meeting humanitarian criteria.

Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 190

Legislative bill overview

HB 190 establishes a geriatric and medical parole program in Maryland that would allow the state to release incarcerated individuals who are elderly, terminally ill, or permanently incapacitated. The bill creates a framework for the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to evaluate prisoners meeting these criteria and recommend them for parole consideration based on humanitarian grounds and reduced public safety risk.

Why is this important

Geriatric and medical parole addresses the significant fiscal and humanitarian costs of incarcerating aging and seriously ill prisoners, who typically require expensive medical care and pose minimal recidivism risk. This reflects a national trend toward recognizing that incapacitation through imprisonment becomes unnecessary when individuals can no longer pose a public safety threat due to age or health conditions.

Potential points of contention

  • Victim concerns: Families of crime victims may oppose early release regardless of the offender's health status, viewing parole as inadequate justice
  • Public safety debate: Disagreement over whether age and illness reliably predict that someone poses no danger to the community
  • Fiscal claims: Dispute over actual cost savings versus administrative overhead of evaluating candidates, and whether resources should go to elderly care in prison versus release

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

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