In a shakeup to Maryland Department of Juvenile Services leadership, Secretary Vincent Schiraldi resigned from his position effective on June 9. Betsy Fox Tolentino, who Schiraldi recommended to succeed him, will serve as the acting replacement.
While Schiraldi said he was ready to leave the department, he also said that public criticism regarding juvenile crime and administrative problems revealed in a recent audit was not why he was leaving.
Schiraldi was appointed by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) following a career of advocacy in New York and a brief tenure as New York City’s Department of Corrections Commissioner in the last months of Mayor Bill De Blasio’s (D) term (2014-2022).
Moore thanked Schiraldi for his service.
“Vinny Schiraldi brought decades of experience and innovative thinking to the task of running the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services,” Moore, who recently appointed Harry Coker Jr. as the new Commerce Secretary and Dr. Meena Seshamani as the new Secretary of Health, said in a statement.
Having served as DJS secretary since 2023, Schiraldi said there was more he hoped to accomplish in criminal justice reform.
“I regret we didn’t do more to roll back mass incarceration here, or too many politicians that either vilify young people, particularly Black young people, in an effort to advance their careers. And, too many other politicians that run hiding from that debate,” he said in an interview with WBAL. “So, one thing I’m looking forward to is being freed up to participate in that debate again.”
For more information on the Department of Juvenile Services, go here.
