An audit of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) has revealed many issues, from lapses in background checks to mismanagement of finances and overtime, prompting renewed calls for the resignation of DJS Secretary Vincent Schiraldi. The audit, which covered April 2020 and December 2023, was conducted by the Maryland General Assembly's Department of Legislative Services and unveiled persistent problems at residential service facilities.
One particularly troubling finding reported by FOX Baltimore was an employee with convictions for assault and possession of a dangerous weapon working directly with juveniles. In addition, a previous investigation had revealed that DJS hired Joel Caston, a convicted murderer, as an administrator. The audit also uncovered financial discrepancies, including $1.5 million paid for a previously denied invoice and excessive overtime payments that, in 2023, saw 10 employees earning more than their regular salaries.
The audit also noted cybersecurity issues; however, specific findings and recommendations remain undisclosed due to security concerns. As reported by WBALTV, although Secretary Schiraldi has made changes to address some of these problems, legislators remain unconvinced. Maryland House Republican Caucus, led by Minority Leader Jason Buckel, called the audit "yet another troubling, but not surprising, example of the Department of Juvenile (Services') failure to protect the children in its care."
Despite acknowledgments of the issues at hand, Schiraldi has attributed many of the problems to the previous administration, a stance that has received criticism from officials such as Carroll County Sheriff Jim DeWees, who told FOX Baltimore, "it's time to take responsibility for the inactions of the audit." Meanwhile, Maryland Sen. Chris West described the repeat findings of deficiencies as "unacceptable," questioning why past audit recommendations were not fully implemented, further emphasizing the point in a statement obtained by WBALTV.
Citing the audit, WMAR2News reported that DJS did not have a process to ensure that residential service facilities corrected deficiencies identified by its Office of the Inspector General, allowing numerous problems to persist. Despite resistance, Secretary Schiraldi pledged to implement most of the audit's recommended changes by 2025.
