Maryland Prisons Chief Scruggs to Step Down
Gov. Wes Moore announced that Secretary Carolyn Scruggs will leave the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, with Deputy Secretary David Greene serving on an interim basis.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in People
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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced on Friday that Carolyn Scruggs will step down as secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Deputy Secretary David Greene will serve as interim secretary while he awaits confirmation.
Why it matters
The leadership change comes as the state's prison system continues to contend with staffing and oversight questions, including a former warden's allegation that hiring under Scruggs was limited. The transition puts the department's reform efforts under new management at a time when advocates are pressing for concrete change.
Agency vacancy rates have dropped nearly by half since 2023, when they were near 17%, according to the department's reported figures. Scruggs logged 30 years of state service, while Greene brings two decades of leadership experience at the department, and whether the vacancy trend holds remains unconfirmed.
The players
Wes Moore
Wes Moore is the Governor of Maryland, who announced the leadership change at the state's prison agency.
Carolyn Scruggs
Carolyn Scruggs is a longtime Maryland corrections official who spent 30 years in state service before stepping down as secretary.
David Greene
David Greene is the Deputy Secretary of Operations at the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, nominated to serve as interim secretary.
Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is the state agency that runs Maryland's prison system and oversees its correctional facilities.
The details
The governor's office announced the change Friday, naming Deputy Secretary of Operations David Greene to serve as interim secretary. The department also cited expanded crisis de-escalation training for correctional officers, revamped oversight of facility security audits, and the rollout of officer body cameras during Scruggs's tenure.
Timeline
Friday: Gov. Wes Moore announces Scruggs's departure and Greene's interim appointment.
July: Advocates for staff and incarcerated people rally in support of conditions at the Eastern Correctional Institute.
2023: Agency vacancy rates stood near 17%.
Market Landscape
The leadership change follows the department's implementation of correctional officer body cameras and expanded de-escalation training during Scruggs's tenure. Whether Greene continues that reform track will shape how the agency's oversight measures develop.
For Maryland residents, the change determines who leads the state's prison system while Greene awaits confirmation. Families of incarcerated people and correctional staff will be watching whether the department's staffing and oversight policies shift under the new leadership.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions at state corrections agencies often set the direction for staffing, training and oversight for years. Readers following Maryland's prison system should watch the confirmation process for Greene and any published staffing data.
Further reading
Explore more on People for context on other leadership changes shaping state institutions.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 47abc.
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