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Saturday, November 23, 2024

Vincent Schiraldi's controversial past sparking whistleblowers, calls for federal probe - WJLA

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WBFF) — Echoes from Secretary Vincent Schiraldi’s past are growing louder as current and former state youth correctional employees are speaking out about conditions behind detention center walls.

A senior official from the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) who was removed from their position over the summer told FOX45 News on Wednesday that they felt empowered to share their story after Baltimore-area criminal defense attorney Warren Brown called for a federal investigation into the agency.

They [the federal government] needs to launch an immediate investigation into DJS,” the DJS whistleblower said. “You need a third party to come in and look at what the department is doing at this point.”

The seasoned ex-DJS professional said that they saw a significant increase in illegal contraband, drugs and underage drinking within the state's juvenile detention facilities. The ex-employeesaida rise in youth-on-youth and youth-on-staff violence was due to frequent staff removals by DJS leadership and persistent vacancies.

“The department has been run down tremendously since he [Schiraldi] has been in power,” the whistleblower said. “There is no future for the department with him in charge.”

A weeks-long investigation by FOX45 News revealed that at least six prominent positions within DJS are no longer occupied by the same individuals who were longtime...



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