Some individuals residing at the Rosewood Center are court-involved. Maryland law provides that DHMH may be ordered to provide to a court an evaluation regarding an individual's ability to stand trial in a criminal case, or regarding the individual's criminal responsibility for an alleged criminal act.  If the individual has a preliminary diagnosis of intellectual disability, the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) is responsible for performing the evaluation. For individuals who are dangerous to themselves or others, the evaluation is performed at a facility, thus in the past individuals were committed to the Rosewood Center for evaluation. If the individual is found incompetent to stand trial and dangerous due to intellectual disability or not criminally responsible and dangerous due to intellectual disability, and the Court does not approve a community placement due to clinical or public safety factors, the individual will be committed to DHMH for care, treatment and services to address the clinical, habilitation and safety needs of the individual. Again, in the past, such individuals were placed at the Rosewood Center.

As part of the planning for the closure of Rosewood, DHMH has developed specific programs and facilities for forensic individuals who are determined to be a danger to themselves or others.

Beginning in July, the evaluations that need to be conducted in a secure facility are being performed at a new unit, operated by DDA solely for this purpose, located in Jessup.

Beginning this fall, individuals who are committed to DHMH for long-term placement will be admitted to a unit operated by DDA specifically designed for court-ordered persons. A small number of court-involved persons currently at the Rosewood who will continue to need long-term residential placements will move to this unit.