THE
decarceration
initiative
CONTACT US:
217 E. REDWOOD STREET, SUITE 900
BALTIMORE, MD 21202
410-767-8471
The Maryland Office of the Public Defender’s Decarceration Initiative is a project to reduce mass incarceration in Maryland. The Initiative leads the effort to fulfill the promise of the Juvenile Restoration Act of 2021 (JUVRA) and the Second Look Act of 2025 (SLA) by directly representing people on motions for sentence reduction under these laws and by recruiting and training legal teams to do so.
The Maryland General Assembly enacted JUVRA and SLA because it recognized that young people convicted of serious crimes are capable of changing and safely rejoining society. These laws (codified at Maryland Criminal Procedure Article § 8-110) allow most people who have served at least 20 years of a sentence for a crime committed when they were under the age of 25 to file a motion asking the circuit court to reduce their sentence. In passing these laws, the Maryland legislature recognized that children and emerging adults who commit serious crimes are capable of growth and change and rehabilitation, and that after a period of time they can be safely released and should have an opportunity to build a life outside of prison.
At the time of their enactment, the Office of the Public Defender had identified more than 150 people eligible for sentence reconsideration under JUVRA and more than 500 people eligible under the SLA. Although the Acts do not provide a right to counsel, we believe that legal representation is essential to give people a meaningful opportunity to come home and are working hard to find legal teams to represent all who are eligible. In partnership with the Association for the Public Defender of Maryland, we are recruiting attorneys and securing resources to provide representation for as many eligible individuals as possible.
How to Request Representation
If an incarcerated person has not yet been contacted by the Decarceration Initiative but believes they may be eligible to file a motion under the JUVRA or the SLA and would like to be considered for representation through this project, they should write to:
Decarceration Initiative
Office of the Public Defender
217 E. Redwood Street, Suite 900
Baltimore, MD 21202
In that letter, it is helpful if they can indicate they want help filing a motion under the JUVRA or SLA and include the following information that will help us make a preliminary assessment of their eligibility:
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Their name and DOC number;
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Their date of birth;
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The circuit court case number(s) related to their sentences; and
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A short summary of the sentence(s) they are serving, the sentence start date(s), and the date(s) of the underlying crime(s).
If it appears that the person may be eligible based on this information, the OPD will send them a questionnaire and release form to help us learn more about them and their case. As we identify lawyers who are willing to represent people pro bono, we’ll match them with people on our list who still need counsel. (Please note that part of the lawyer’s role is to prepare and file the motion; we are not able to provide representation on motions that individuals have filed pro se.)
A Pro Bono Opportunity for Lawyers
The JUVRA and SLA provide incarcerated individuals who have earned a second chance to rejoin their families and communities and build a life outside of prison walls. But they need lawyers to help them make their case. In light of the number of people eligible who need legal assistance, we are recruiting and training private attorneys who are willing to represent one or more clients pro bono in their effort to obtain their freedom.
Apply here to represent an eligible individual pro bono or as a panel lawyer.
If you are interested and would like to learn more, please contact Brian Saccenti at brian.saccenti@maryland.gov.
Support this Work
Another way to support this important work is to donate to the Decarceration Initiative through our non-profit partner, the Association for the Public Defender of Maryland (APDM).
Donations and grants made through APDM allow us to hire much-needed staff, provide representation in cases where OPD has a conflict-of-interest, and provide some material support (e.g., clothing, toiletries, other essentials) for clients who need it after they are released.
To learn more about APDM or to donate, please visit APDM’s website.
Other Resources
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Decarceration Initiative Receives the American College of Trial Lawyers’ Emil Gumpert Award, The Advocate - Newsletter of the Baltimore County Bar Association, June-July 2026.
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Maryland Lawyers Have a Chance to Change Lives: 500 People are Waiting, Maryland Bar Journal, Summer 2026.