Governor Moore:

More than two weeks ago the Joint Republican Caucus sent you a letter asking for the removal of Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) Secretary Vincent Schiraldi. In the intervening time, we have become aware of even more failures within DJS and question the ability of the Department to adequately perform its mission. To date, we have received no response to our concerns, and there has been no action or leadership by your administration to make immediate and necessary course corrections. Unfortunately, evidence of these failures abound, but the following we find most concerning.

1. The October 15th arrest of a 17-year-old for first degree murder at a time that he was already charged with attempted murder and while he was theoretically being monitored via an ankle monitor administered by DJS. He had removed the ankle monitor prior to committing the second murder, but DJS was seemingly unaware of this, and had not apprehended him. DJS had placed this juvenile in Howard High School without ever informing Howard County school authorities that he was charged with attempted murder, and when arrested at Howard High School during the school day, the juvenile had a loaded, illegal ghost gun in his backpack.
2. October 16th whistleblower statements about unsafe conditions at DJS facilities where there has been an increase in violence, illegal drug usage, departure of tenured leadership, and a failure to deliver essential intervention programs. This and similar reports have resulted in calls for a Federal investigation into conditions at DJS facilities.
3. Mr. Schiraldi’s employment of a convicted murderer as a senior member of his cabinet-level department, responsible for reforming the state’s juvenile corrections system. This individual had previously worked for Mr. Schiraldi at Rikers Island in New York City at a time that a federal monitoring report on Rikers Island found that it was in “summer crisis”, lacking “adequate supervision and accountability”. How many other convicted murderers has Mr. Schiraldi hired at taxpayer expense to hold responsible positions at DJS?

In February 2023, every Republican Senator voted against Mr. Schiraldi’s nomination both in the Senate Executive Nominations Committee and on the Senate Floor. At that time, we knew he and his philosophies were not the right fit for Maryland, and unfortunately, we have been proven right. These are just three of many examples of how Secretary Schiraldi’s disastrous philosophies and policies are degrading public safety across Maryland. Your administration has both a duty to the community and the youth DJS is charged with rehabilitating, and current leadership is failing both. As a former military officer, you know that it is imperative for commanders to have the trust and respect of their team. Marylanders have lost trust and confidence in Secretary Schiraldi’s ability to lead the Department of Juvenile Services, and therefore as Chief Executive Officer of the State of Maryland, we are asking once again that you relieve him of command.

For a printable version of the letter, click here.

BY AUTHORITY: FRIENDS OF JOHNNY MAUTZ, LINDA SEEMANS, TREASURER | POWERED BY VOTEGTR