Maryland Juvenile Services Secretary Vincent Schiraldi vowed to “stay on this job,” responding to members of the General Assembly and Baltimore residents who have called for his removal, the Baltimore Sun reports. Schiraldi told WBAL-TV he believes people “have a right to feel safe in their home communities.,” adding, “I’m never gonna sort of push back on communities that are angry because they feel unsafe. My job is to make it safer, and I’ll stay in this job as long as I’m allowed to." Maryland’s Joint Republican Caucus asked Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, to remove him. More than a dozen Baltimore community associations have supported calls for Schiraldi’s removal. Maryland Sen. Ron Watson, a Prince George’s County Democrat, said, It’s time for Schiraldi to either specify his challenges so we can fix it or move on,” reports FOX45.
Schiraldi announced changes Oct. 1 to the department’s detention policies. Juveniles accused of a violent felony but not detained are now placed on electronic monitoring. Those who are already on electronic monitoring and charged with a violent felony are detained. A letter Friday from the Maryland Senate Republicans caucus called on Moore to remove Schiraldi, citing the arrest of a 17-year-old who was charged with first-degree murder in Columbia after previously being charged with attempted murder, for which he was under an ankle monitor. Juvenile justice legislation passed by the General Assembly this year goes into effect Nov. 1. The law expands the kinds of possible charges for 10- to 12-year-olds, including certain firearm offenses, aggravated animal cruelty and third-degree sex offenses. It’s also designed to improve communication between the state juvenile justice agency, police and local prosecutors.
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