Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy, (MSCCSP), is an agency within the state government of Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

, that sets guidelines which are used by Maryland circuit court

Circuit court

Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...

 judges in sentencing persons convicted of crimes in the state.

Background

The Maryland General Assembly has charged the commission to "adopt existing sentencing guidelines for sentencing within the limits established by law which shall be considered by the sentencing court in determining the appropriate sentence for defendants who plead guilty or nolo contendere to, or who were found guilty of crimes in a circuit court." The commission was after several studies over a period of time showed the defendants in some of the state's less populated areas got harsher sentences than those in the rest of the state. There was also some concern over racial disparities in sentencing in criminal cases. The MSCCSP can set guidelines that are advisory, Maryland judges are not required to adhere to the guidelines; judges in the federal system generally are.

The MSCCSP was established in 1999, it collects sentencing guidelines worksheets and automates the information; monitors sentencing practices, including judicial compliance with the guidelines; and, as necessary, adopts changes to the guidelines. The Commission integrates correctional options into the guidelines and establishes criteria for determining which defendants should be eligible for correctional options.

Commission members

• Howard S. Chasanow, Chair (chosen by Governor
  Governor of Maryland
  The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
  
  ), 2011
• Appointed by Governor to 4-year terms (term expires):
  • James V. Anthenelli, Esq., (2007)
  • Paul F. Enzinna, Esq., (2009
  • Laura Leigh Martin, Esq., (2009)
  • Charles F. Welford, Ph.D., (2009)
  • Marcus L. Brown, (2011)
  • Richard A. Finci, Esq., (2011)
  • Maj. Bernard B. Foster, Sr., (2011)
  • Joseph I. Cassilly, (2013)
• Appointed by the President of the Maryland Senate:
  • Lisa A. Gladden
    Lisa A. Gladden
    Lisa A. Gladden is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. She is currently serving in her 2nd term in the Maryland State Senate, representing Maryland's District 41 in Baltimore City.-Background:...
    
    
  • Delores G. Kelley
    Delores G. Kelley
    Delores Goodwin Kelley is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. She is currently serving in her 4th term in the Maryland State Senate, representing Maryland's District 10 in Baltimore County.-Background:...
    
    

• Appointed by the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates
  Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates
  The Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates presides as speaker over the House of Delegates in the state of Maryland in the United States.-List of Speakers of the House of Delegates:- References :*...
  
  :
  • Curtis S. Anderson
    Curt Anderson
    Curtis Stovall Anderson is an American politician, lawyer and former broadcast journalist. Anderson was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1983, is the chairman of the Baltimore City Delegation, and past chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. After serving 12...
    
    
  • Joseph F. Vallario, Jr.
    Joseph F. Vallario, Jr.
    Joseph F. Vallario, Jr. is an American politician who represents district 27A in the Maryland House of Delegates and is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee...
    
    

• Appointed by Chief Judge, Court of Appeals:
  • John P. Morrissey
  • John C. Themelis
  • Alfred Nance
• Ex officio:
  • Arrie W. Davis
    Arrie W. Davis
    Arrie W. Davis is an American lawyer and jurist from Baltimore, Maryland, who currently serves as an associate judge on the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.-Background:...
    
    , designee of Chief Judge, Court of Appeals;
  • Douglas F. Gansler, Attorney General;
  • Paul DeWolfe, Public Defender;
  • Gary D. Maynard, Secretary of Public Safety & Correctional Services.

Executive Director:

• David A. Soule, Ph.D.

Subcommittees

Much of the commission's work is done in its two subcommittees with the commission voting on either subcommittee's recommendations during regular meetings of the commission.

Sentencing Guidelines Subcommittee

The Sentencing Guidelines Subcommittee all new and revised offenses adopted by the General Assembly and provides recommendations to the full Commission for seriousness category classification. Additionally, the Sentencing Guidelines Subcommittee regularly reviews suggested revisions to the guidelines calculation process and reports to the overall Commission on guidelines compliance data.

Subcommittee Members:

• Charles F. Wellford, Ph.D., Chair
• Leonard C. Collins, Jr., Charles County State's Attorney
• Senator Delores G. Kelley
• Patrick Kent, Office of the Public Defender
• Judge John C. Themelis

Subcommittee on Sentencing Drug Offenders

The Subcommittee on Sentencing Drug Offenders was established in 2007 to review options available to the judiciary for sentencing drug related felons.

Subcommittee Members:

• Delegate Curt Anderson, Chair
• Shannon E. Avery (representing Secretary Gary D. Maynard)
• Leonard C. Collins, Jr., Charles County State's Attorney
• Major Bernard B. Foster, Sr.
• Senator Lisa A. Gladden
• Laura L. Martin, Esq.
• Judge John P. Morrissey