The 2025 Maryland Statewide Diversion, Reentry, and Justice-Involved Conference, held at Bowie State University on Tuesday, centered on ways to help individuals successfully reintegrate into society after incarceration.
The event, co-hosted by the university and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), featured rows of booths offering information on community resources, education, employment opportunities, and transportation.
Maryland DPSCS Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs emphasized the importance of continued support for individuals after they leave prison. “Reentry support shouldn’t end once someone returns home,” she said. She noted that Maryland has over 17,000 people currently incarcerated and more than 39,000 under parole or probation supervision.
Charles Adams, executive director of Bowie State’s Prison Education Program, stressed the value of mental health support during and after incarceration. “Trauma is a major factor contributing to legal system involvement,” he said.
Willie Hamilton, a conference attendee, shared his personal experience—he spent 30 years and 210 days in prison, beginning at age 16. Hamilton described himself at the time as angry and lost, but credits mental health support for helping him change. Now, he works to assist others transitioning from incarceration to community life.
When asked what message he has for young people, Hamilton said his focus is broader: “My message is to society.” He believes today’s youth are bombarded with negativity and violence, especially through social media.
Ted Sutton, a former gang member turned speaker and consultant, echoed that prevention efforts often fall short. Programs may address individual behavior, but he said it’s ineffective if participants are returned to harmful environments. Both Sutton and Hamilton advocate for continuous, community-based services to support long-term success.
Sutton promotes the role of “urban youth specialists”—individuals with lived experience who have left behind criminal lifestyles and now guide others away from that path. “Being a gangster isn’t about crime,” Sutton said. “It’s about taking care of your family, walking your daughter to school.”
His message to teens: “You don’t have to follow the crowd—lead the crowd.”
