WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) joined Maryland Governor O’Malley today in announcing a $306,605 grant to the State’s Attorney’s Office in Prince George’s County to launch an initiative aimed at criminal offenders who violate the terms of their parole or probation.

“Marylanders deserve to live and raise their families in safe communities,” said Senator Cardin.  “Thanks to this new collaboration between federal, state and local governments, citizens of Prince George’s County can rest assured that their streets are safer, and those who violate the law will face justice.”    

The grant will be used to create a new Collateral Offender Unit in the State’s Attorney’s Office, consisting of two prosecutors and two paralegals that will focus on identifying and prosecuting offenders who violate the terms of their probation. This new Unit, the first of its kind in the County, will handle Violation of Probation (VOP) cases exclusively – providing additional resources to prosecute VOP cases in a timely manner.

The funds are being awarded to the County by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) under the federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (BJAG) program.  Senator Cardin has been instrumental in their support of the BJAG program.

The Unit will be collaborative with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation, local police, and other law enforcement and criminal justice agencies. Officials and investigators from all levels will share information and expertise to find and prosecute the targeted offenders.

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