Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center
Encyclopedia
Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center (MCAC) is a maximum level II (supermax
or control unit) prison operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services in Baltimore
.
MCAC was built in 1988, and is located at 401 East Madison Street in Baltimore, Maryland
, United States
. Prior to February, 2011, inmates housed at MCAC were confined to their cells 23 hours a day Monday through Friday and 24 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday. During their brief out-of-cell time they either recreate inside or outside but not both on the same day. Inmates had no physical contact with other inmates but had communications with others. They did not have access to phones and ate their meals in their cells.
The State of Maryland now has a contract with the federal government to solely house federal pre-trial detainees at MCAC. These federal detainees are not subjected to the supermax conditions that the prior state inmates were subjected to. Federal detainees recreate together both inside and outside everyday of the week, eat together, and have access to phones.
Until June 2010, MCAC also housed Maryland's death row inmates (currently 5). Male death row
inmates are now housed at the North Branch Correctional Institution
in Allegany County, Maryland
. Executions will still take place across the street from the MCAC at the former Maryland Penitentiary (now known as the Metropolitan Transition Center
(MTC)).
All visits to inmates/detainees are non-contact. Inmates/detainees and visitors are separated by a glass window and communicate by use of a phone. Visits are one hour long.
As with most prisons in Maryland, MCAC is headed by a Warden, Assistant Warden, and a Chief of Security. Rules and regulations of the Division of Correction and MCAC are enforced by uniformed correctional officers. Uniformed correctional officers consist of, in descending order of rank; Majors, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Correctional Officer II's, and Correctional Officer I's.
Supermax
Supermax is the name used to describe "control-unit" prisons, or units within prisons, which represent the most secure levels of custody in the prison systems of certain countries...
or control unit) prison operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
.
MCAC was built in 1988, and is located at 401 East Madison Street in Baltimore, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Prior to February, 2011, inmates housed at MCAC were confined to their cells 23 hours a day Monday through Friday and 24 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday. During their brief out-of-cell time they either recreate inside or outside but not both on the same day. Inmates had no physical contact with other inmates but had communications with others. They did not have access to phones and ate their meals in their cells.
The State of Maryland now has a contract with the federal government to solely house federal pre-trial detainees at MCAC. These federal detainees are not subjected to the supermax conditions that the prior state inmates were subjected to. Federal detainees recreate together both inside and outside everyday of the week, eat together, and have access to phones.
Until June 2010, MCAC also housed Maryland's death row inmates (currently 5). Male death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
inmates are now housed at the North Branch Correctional Institution
North Branch Correctional Institution
North Branch Correctional Institution is a high-tech, maximum security prison operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services in unincorporated Allegany County, Maryland, near Cumberland. The prison houses the most serious offenders within the State of Maryland...
in Allegany County, Maryland
Allegany County, Maryland
Allegany County is a county located in the northwestern part of the US state of Maryland. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 75,087. Its county seat is Cumberland...
. Executions will still take place across the street from the MCAC at the former Maryland Penitentiary (now known as the Metropolitan Transition Center
Metropolitan Transition Center
The Maryland Metropolitan Transition Center , formerly known as the Maryland Penitentiary, is a maximum security Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services prison located in Baltimore. It was established in 1811 as the first prison in the state and the second of its kind in the...
(MTC)).
All visits to inmates/detainees are non-contact. Inmates/detainees and visitors are separated by a glass window and communicate by use of a phone. Visits are one hour long.
As with most prisons in Maryland, MCAC is headed by a Warden, Assistant Warden, and a Chief of Security. Rules and regulations of the Division of Correction and MCAC are enforced by uniformed correctional officers. Uniformed correctional officers consist of, in descending order of rank; Majors, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Correctional Officer II's, and Correctional Officer I's.