Baltimore Invests $300K to Expand Reentry Support for Returning Citizens

Baltimore is expanding support for residents returning home from incarceration, with new funding and a newly sworn-in council aimed at reducing repeat offenses and helping returning citizens rebuild their lives as part of the mayor’s broader violence prevention strategy.

During an appearance on the Quicksilva Morning Show, Chanel White, chief of staff for the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), said the city allocated $300,000 in its fiscal year 2027 budget to expand the Office of Returning Citizens. It marks the first direct investment of general funds in the office’s reentry efforts.

White said roughly 2,000 people return to Baltimore from incarceration each year. Citing the Justice Policy Institute, she noted city residents account for 40% of Maryland’s prison population despite representing just 9% of the state’s overall population.

Baltimore also recently swore in its first Reentry Action Council, which will help guide policies and programs serving returning citizens.

Council member Gordon Peck, who was formerly incarcerated, said successful reentry requires more than housing and financial assistance. He emphasized mentorship, community connections and access to resources that help people rebuild their lives.

“Stop thinking that incarceration is normal,” Peck told young listeners, encouraging them to seek opportunities outside prison.

MONSE is seeking employers willing to hire returning citizens, an urgent need White highlighted during the interview. The office also connects people with housing assistance, financial literacy training, credit education and other support services.

Returning citizens and potential community partners can call 410-396-0125 or email monse@baltimorecity.gov for additional information.