LEONARDTOWN, Md. – Michael J. Stamm passed away on October 2nd at the age of 68, but his legacy will live on in Southern Maryland communities for generations. A County Administrative Judge for the St. Mary’s County Circuit Court, Stamm contributed heavily to juvenile reform in Southern Maryland, encouraging a second chance for youth with substance abuse problems. Before becoming a judge, Stamm was a teacher at Spring Ridge Middle School and Esperanza Middle School, further solidifying his dedication to helping children and young adults thrive.
Honorable Judge Michael J. Stamm believed that the justice system should work to rehabilitate people, not simply punish them. He helped create systems that would offer alternative options to traditional forms of sentencing, particularly for youth and those suffering from addiction.
Stamm helped to pioneer the Juvenile Drug Court Program in St. Mary’s County by working as the presiding judge. This initiative was formed to help youth with substance abuse issues break their addictions and grant expungement upon completion of the program. By offering group and individual counseling to participants, those battling addiction could get the help they truly deserve.
According to the St. Mary’s County Juvenile Drug Court Outcome and Cost Evaluation Report from 2010, “Throughout the program, participants attend drug court hearings evaluating their progress, supervision meetings with a case manager, and group and individual counseling sessions. Their family members are also included in the program and offered services as needed. The program requires that the youth submit to drug testing, attend school or another educational or occupational activity, and complete a community project. The JDC uses incentives and sanctions to encourage positive behaviors. Youth must have been abstinent for a minimum of 120 consecutive days and complete all program requirements, including restitution, to graduate; at which time the youth is eligible to expunge the case from his/her court records.”
The report also detailed the rate at which the Juvenile Drug Court Program reduced substance abuse. The rate went from 40% of participants testing positive via a urinalysis to less than 20% after 10 months of participation. By treating those with substance abuse issues as people with a legitimate problem, youth put more effort into the program and could seek the necessary help through counseling.
The re-arrest rate of participants showed a decrease as well. The rate was 75% before entering the Juvenile Drug Court Program, which decreased to 52% for participants following their involvement in the program. The reduction of re-arrests and lack of traditional, often expensive, forms of rehabilitation saved St. Mary’s County money, too.
Lower drug use and re-arrest rates are important in the long term, but the most notable impact of the Juvenile Drug Court Program was the shift in treating young people struggling with addiction in St. Mary’s County as human beings who are capable of recovery. If our justice system actually seeks to rehabilitate, then offenders are more likely to take programs like this seriously and seek positive change for themselves.
A study by Steven Belenko helps further identify that Juvenile Drug Court Programs can help those with substance abuse and mental health issues recover successfully, and avoid recidivism. The research details the outcomes for multiple Juvenile Drug Court Programs. The conclusion reads, “This study confirms the potential benefit of JDTCs as an effective intervention for youth with moderate to high risk of recidivism and substance use.”
The success of the Juvenile Drug Court Program helped create new opportunities for youth struggling with substance abuse in St. Mary’s County between 2006 and 2019. Due to a lack of participants, the program shut down in 2019 and donated its remaining funds to the Recreation and Parks Scholarship programs. Although the program is no longer necessary in St. Mary’s County, it continues to inspire initiatives that promote recovery and help rehabilitate struggling youth in Southern Maryland.
Michael J. Stamm didn’t stop with the Juvenile Drug Court Program; he continued to work towards a brighter future for St. Mary’s County youth. By advocating for issues that affect younger generations, such as foster care and juvenile justice, Stamm will forever be imprinted into the framework of St. Mary’s County.
Dedicated teacher, father, and judge – Michael J Stamm worked to offer solutions instead of punishment and understood the need for programs that drive youth to change their lives for the better.
Baynet reached out to the St. Mary’s County Circuit Court to ask a few questions about the legacy of Honorable Michael J. Stamm, but hasn’t yet heard back. Baynet will update this article as information becomes available.
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He definitely was a good judge definitely never looked at a person of there past just help to benefit them in the future you will forever be missed
My daughter was one of those success stories under Judge Stamm and the Teen Drug Court. She was the only one to speak at the National Convention for NADP at Anaheim California in 2012.
My heart is broken losing a wonderful Advocate of the Children in St. Mary’s County.