Prince George's County, Maryland, USA
Interior Nat Harbor

Administrative Hearing Board

Administrative Hearing Board (hereinafter "AHB" or "trial board") proceedings are rooted in administrative law, not criminal law, and it is paramount that AHB members recognize that underpinning. For instance, hearing boards are not subject to the often rigid evidentiary and procedural rules that are rooted in traditional court proceedings. 

Administrative Hearings are like an appeal. They are held at the request of law enforcement officers who exercise their right to contest findings and disciplinary decisions made by the Administrative Charging Committee or a law enforcement agency.
They cover countywide and local law enforcement agencies in Prince George's County.

Accepting Letters of Interest

The Police Accountability Board is accepting letters of interest and resumes for Administrative Hearing Board Civilian Positions.

Please email your letter of interest and resume to pgpab@co.pg.md.us or mail to:

Police Accountability Board 
9200 Basil Court, Suite 406 
Largo, Maryland 20774 

Upcoming Hearing Boards

 

MPAA-PGEO-01-26-11000

Status: SCHEDULED

 

MPAA-PGEO-01-26-10819

Status: SCHEDULED

 

AHB-26-06-02

Status: SCHEDULED

 

MPAA-PGEO-01-26-11444

Status: SCHEDULED

 

AHB-26-106-01

Status: SCHEDULED

 

AHB-26-106-02

Status: SCHEDULED

 

AHB-26-114-01

Status: SCHEDULED

 

MPAA-PGEO-01-26-02272

Status: SCHEDULED

 

*Administrative Hearings are conducted by the designated law enforcement agency. Dates/times are subject to change. Please contact the law enforcement agency or their website to confirm hearing dates/times or inquire about attending.

Role of the Hearing Board Members 

It is the duty of trial board members to consider the facts of a case without bias or prejudice and to render a decision based only on the evidence presented by the parties. It is their duty to:

  • Review the evidence,
  • Determine the credibility of the witnesses,
  • Resolve any conflicts that may arise during the hearing; and
  • Determine the weight of the evidence when rendering a final disposition for the "appeal.” 

Finally, Administrative Hearing Board members should be guided by fundamental rules of fairness, equity, and due process.

Hearing Board Composition

A separate hearing board is assembled for each officer who contests findings or disciplinary decisions. As noted above, pursuant to HB670, each Administrative Hearing Board must be composed of:

  • An administrative law judge or retired judge from the District or Circuit Court;
  • An officer of equal rank as the officer requesting the hearing and
  • A civilian who is not a member of the Administrative Charging Committee or the Police Accountability Board

The Prince George's County Police Accountability Board is responsible for appointing one or more individuals to serve as civilian members of the AHB. 

With this composition, an Administrative Hearing Board is quasi-judicial in nature. As such, it is empowered to make factual findings, decide questions of law, and make determinations of guilt or innocence based on the facts properly submitted before it.