Independent institutions that check this jurisdiction's own power — audit, ombudsman, inspector general, civilian review, ethics, and grand-jury bodies established by statute.
The Maryland Legislative Auditor is appointed by the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee. The Office of Legislative Audits audits state agencies, local school systems, and other entities...
Read scorecard → 02 AuditThe Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards (Correctional Services §8-106), established in 1980, sets and enforces mandatory correctional facility standards across eight disciplines for all...
Read scorecard → 03 Inspector GeneralEstablished by 2021 legislation (State Gov. §6-602), the AG's Independent Investigations Division is the mandatory primary investigative unit for all police-involved deaths and potentially fatal...
Read scorecard → 04 Inspector GeneralThe Maryland Inspector General is appointed by the Governor and investigates fraud, waste, and abuse in executive branch agencies. The IG has subpoena power and records access.
Read scorecard → 05 Ethics CommissionThe Maryland State Ethics Commission enforces the Public Ethics Law, including financial disclosure, conflict of interest, and lobbying provisions for state officials and employees. Members are...
Read scorecard → 06 Civilian ReviewThe PTSC is an independent commission within DPSCS (Pub. Safety §3-202) with mandatory authority to suspend or revoke police officer certifications for use-of-force violations, felony conviction,...
Read scorecard → 07 Civilian ReviewMaryland's Administrative Charging Committees (Pub. Safety §3-104) are all-civilian bodies (5 members) that review completed law enforcement investigations and determine whether to...
Read scorecard → 08 Civilian ReviewEach Maryland county must establish a Police Accountability Board (Pub. Safety §3-102). Active police officers are barred from membership; the local governing body appoints all members and the...
Read scorecard →Maryland's 2021 Police Accountability Act (HB 670) created a three-tier civilian accountability framework: county Police Accountability Boards (Pub. Safety §3-102) receive complaints and appoint civilians to Administrative Charging Committees (§3-104), which issue binding charges — and Trial Boards (§3-106, mixed civilian/officer panels) render final discipline. The AG's Independent Investigations Division (State Gov. §6-602) independently investigates all police-involved deaths with full prosecutorial powers. The Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission (Pub. Safety §3-202) holds binding decertification authority (§3-212). The Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards (Correctional Services §8-106) audits and enforces mandatory standards statewide. The executive-branch OIG covers DPSCS broadly but is not independent.