Maryland State Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy, (MSCCSP), is an agency within the state government of Maryland, that sets guidelines which are used by Maryland circuit court judges in sentencing persons convicted of crimes in the state.
There was also some concern over racial disparities in sentencing in criminal cases.
The MSCCSP can set guidelines that are advisory, Maryland judges are not required to adhere to the guidelines; judges in the federal system generally are.
The Sentencing Guidelines Subcommittee all new and revised offenses adopted by the General Assembly and provides recommendations to the full Commission for seriousness category classification.
Subcommittee Members: The Subcommittee on Sentencing Drug Offenders was established in 2007 to review options available to the judiciary for sentencing drug related felons.