The Decarceration Initiative Expands to Meet Growing Need

We are thrilled to share that the Decarceration Initiative (DI) — a partnership between the Maryland Office of the Public Defender (OPD) and the Association for the Public Defender of Maryland (APDM) — is growing. Thanks to generous support from The Just Trust and Vital Projects, we are expanding our team to prepare for the significant increase in clients who will be eligible for relief when Maryland’s Second Look Act takes effect on October 1, 2025.

The Second Look Act will allow individuals who have served at least 20 years on a sentence for an offense committed when they were 18–24 years old to seek a sentence reduction. Approximately 500 individuals are expected to be eligible on day one. Among them:

• 270 are serving life sentences

• 121 have release dates more than 10 years away

• 117 have release dates within the next 10 years

Representing individuals seeking Second Look relief requires deep client engagement, extensive investigation, collaboration with experts, and carefully tailored advocacy. The DI team will review court and prison records, interview clients and families, prepare motions, present testimony and arguments in court, create reentry plans, and support clients post-release. The team also mobilizes and trains pro bono attorneys to expand capacity and ensure that eligible individual has access to high-quality representation.

While this expansion is a critical step forward, much more support is needed to fully meet the urgent demand the Second Look Act will create. Hundreds of Marylanders are counting on access to high-quality representation, and additional resources will be essential to ensure no one is left behind.

We are deeply grateful to The Just Trust and Vital Projects for their partnership and commitment to advancing justice. Their support has made this growth possible — and we invite others to join us in sustaining and expanding this vital work.