An online petition calling for Governor Wes Moore to replace Vincent Schiraldi, the current secretary of the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), is gaining significant traction. The petition, initiated by Southeast Baltimore community leader Arch McKown, has already amassed over 2,200 signatures and continues to grow.
The call for Schiraldi’s replacement comes amid escalating concerns about youth involvement in crime, particularly in Baltimore City. McKown, who recently appeared on FOX45 Morning News, expressed his concerns about the department’s performance under Schiraldi’s leadership.
“The agency, from what we’ve seen, is underperforming,” McKown stated during his television appearance. “There seems to be this systemic dysfunction within the agency, so you start at the top.”
McKown and other community leaders argue that Schiraldi’s philosophy regarding probation and parole is ill-suited to address the current juvenile crime concerns. While acknowledging the year-over-year decrease in homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore City, McKown emphasized that residents in Southeast Baltimore still don’t feel safe.
“We come to find out a lot of these kids are out running around, and they are causing problems,” McKown added, highlighting the disconnect between crime statistics and community perceptions.
The petition has gained momentum following a recent violent incident in Butchers Hill near Patterson Park. A brutal attack, caught on video, showed a group of teens beating and robbing a 66-year-old man. Two suspects in the case, 18-year-old Montaz Bailey and a 15-year-old boy, now face attempted first-degree murder charges.
This incident has further fueled concerns about juvenile crime and the effectiveness of the current DJS policies. The petition reflects growing community frustration with what they perceive as inadequate responses to youth crime issues.
As the number of signatures continues to rise, the petition puts increased pressure on Governor Moore to address these concerns and potentially reconsider his appointment of Schiraldi to lead the Department of Juvenile Services.