Latest news with #DJS
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Teen arrested for pulling knife on boy and stealing car in downtown Baltimore, police say
A 17-year-old was arrested for allegedly pulling a knife on a boy and then stealing a vehicle in downtown Baltimore on Monday afternoon, according to police. Police said a mother parked the car, kept it running, and left her son in the car as she walked into a bank. The suspect then got into the vehicle, assaulted the son, pulled a knife on him, and pushed him out of the vehicle before driving away. Police used a tracking device to locate the vehicle in the 1500 block of Jefferson Street, where the 17-year-old was taken into custody. The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services issued new guidelines for minors on electronic monitoring who are arrested for serious crimes. Juvenile services staff are required to detain youth who are arrested while wearing an electronic monitor until their next court day at the request of law enforcement. Betsy Fox Tolentino, the acting secretary of the DJS, said the decision came after a series of meetings with public officials, according to our partners at The Baltimore Banner. It also comes after recent incidents involving young people wearing ankle monitors. Staff must attend court with the young person and report their behavior while wearing the monitor. Tolentino has taken over as the DJS secretary after Vincent Schiraldi resigned. She spoke with WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren about taking over a role that had been a lightning rod for critics. "We don't want people to feel unsafe," Tolentino said. "We want people to feel that they are safe in their communities and confident that the department is doing what it can do to support our young people." One of the criticisms was that under Schiraldi, juvenile offenders did not fear consequences. Asked whether she sees things that need immediate fixing within DJS, Tolentino said, "What I bring to the agency is this renewed focus on our day-to-day operations—ensuring that at the front door of our system when law enforcement brings a young person to our attention, that our decision making is aligned with Maryland law and designed to get young people what they need—and also that we are in the position to support public safety." Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he wants accountability in the effort against juvenile crime. "I think accountability means being able to use all assets at your disposal," Moore said. "So, if you're saying that accountability simply means a lecture, I think you're wrong. And I think if you're saying accountability means locking everyone up for everything, I also think you are wrong." Moore said, "True public safety means that you have to have the right combination of accountability for those who break the law, and you need to make sure that you focus on rehabilitation."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Juvenile Services announces improvements to electronic monitoring policies
The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services announced changes to their electronic monitoring policies. The changes will reflect a more proactive agency role. READ MORE:
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Juvenile Services announces improvements to electronic monitoring policies
The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services announced changes to their electronic monitoring policies. The changes will reflect a more proactive agency role. READ MORE:
CBS News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland governor wants accountability in juvenile crime fight after DJS secretary's resignation
The embattled Maryland Secretary of Juvenile Services, Vincent Schiraldi, told WJZ he is leaving on his terms, despite Governor Wes Moore insisting he asked for the resignation. The move follows intense criticism of Schiraldi during his two years in office, with critics claiming his policies are too lenient on young and violent offenders. Schiraldi defends work Secretary Schiraldi defended his work in an interview with WJZ shortly after Monday night's surprise announcement from the governor's office that he would be leaving DJS. "Lots of stuff has gone in the right direction, and I thought it's probably a good time for this particular lightning rod to move on and let somebody else take it to the next level," Schiraldi said. Schiraldi said the barrage of criticism that he is too easy on juvenile offenders and failed to hold them accountable during his years on the job factored into his decision. "I've been under criticism since I started," Schiraldi said. "I think it sort of bears noting mass incarceration has been around almost five decades now, and there have been people who have gone up against it, who have pushed back and fought against what I think is very destructive and racially divisive and ineffective policy." Schiraldi added, "This is right out of the mass incarceration playbook: Lots of politicians thumping their chests and vilifying kids and saying we should lock more of them up, and that's what happened. None of that was a surprise." Moore addresses Schiraldi's departure Gov. Moore had a different take on how the departure unfolded. "I called for his resignation, and I'm happy about the direction that I think we are going to go in," the governor told WYPR's Midday with Tom Hall. Moore also spoke about his view of juvenile justice. "I think accountability means being able to use all assets at your disposal," Moore said. "So, if you're saying that accountability simply means a lecture, I think you're wrong. And I think if you're saying accountability means locking everyone up for everything, I also think you are wrong." Moore said, "True public safety means that you have to have the right combination of accountability for those who break the law, and you need to make sure that you focus on rehabilitation." DJS leadership replacement The governor tapped Betsy Fox Tolentino to take over DJS. She currently works for Roca, an organization WJZ has profiled that helps reach the most at-risk youth in Maryland. Tolentino previously worked in Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services Schiraldi said he recommended her for the position, but the governor insisted Tuesday, "She is my choice. I'm thankful that we have someone who is so talented who is coming on to be able to take on that role." Moore said he was "looking forward to the Senate nominations committee giving her a speedy confirmation." The critics Critics, including many Republicans in the General Assembly, told WJZ Investigates they want a change in direction at DJS, citing repeat, violent offenders going unpunished. "Someone who is 16- and 17-years-old, if they commit a violent crime, they should absolutely be held accountable. I certainly hope the acting secretary does not continue down that pathway [of Schiraldi]," Baltimore County Republican Delegate Ryan Nawrocki told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren. Nawrocki said the resignation came as a surprise. "The governor definitely dug in on his confidence in Secretary Schiraldi, so I was definitely surprised by his resignation, but I certainly think it was long overdue," he said. "As you know, I have been calling for his resignation now for well over a year. The system is fundamentally broken at DJS, and I believe the only way to have a good pathway forward is to have new leadership at the top of that organization." The new secretary will still have to be confirmed by the state senate and faces tough questions from Republicans, including Senator William Folden, who was outspoken about Schiraldi's tenure. "He's been a colossal failure," Senator Folden told Hellgren. "He should never have been in that position, and for the governor to put him in that position and leave him in there for as long as he did, at least there's change coming." Folden added, "I applaud the governor for doing this. It's taken a long enough time, but at least the action has been taken now." High-profile incidents Last year, Schiraldi said he had no plans to step down after facing criticism over an incident in Howard County. Howard County Superintendent Bill Barnes said at the time he had no idea a 17-year-old student at Howard High faced attempted murder charges for a violent attack that left a victim paralyzed when he was placed in the school on an ankle monitor under the supervision of the state Department of Juvenile Services. The teen suspect was arrested and charged with the murder of a man last October in the parking lot of an office building in Columbia. Police said they took him into custody in school with a ghost gun that was loaded, had an extended magazine, and was modified to be an automatic weapon. Other incidents involving repeat, juvenile offenders have also been fodder for those who wanted Secretary Schiraldi gone. Other incidents involving repeat, juvenile offenders have also been fodder for those who wanted Secretary Schiraldi gone. The secretary defended his record. "We need to start having a fact and data-based conversation and not just vilify young people with hyperbole. It doesn't serve the goals of public safety. It feeds fear, and it's contrary to the best practices in research," Schiraldi said. He told WJZ his last day on the job is June 20.
Washington Post
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Maryland juvenile services head Schiraldi resigns after intense scrutiny
Maryland Department of Juvenile Services Secretary Vincent Schiraldi — Gov. Wes Moore's most unorthodox Cabinet member — resigned Monday after a tumultuous two years while tasked with overhauling the agency amid a spike in crime among teens. Schiraldi, a nationally renowned youth justice reformist, said in an interview Tuesday that he told the governor's office last month of his intent to leave the agency by the end of the calendar year, but said he would depart sooner if it made more sense logistically for the administration.
