Wes Moore Ordered Juvenile Services Chief to Resign
Moore Says He Ordered Juvenile Services Chief To Resign, Cites Lack Of Urgency
Gov. Wes Moore says the resignation of Maryland Department of Juvenile Services Secretary Vincent Schiraldi wasn’t voluntary, despite Schiraldi’s claim otherwise. In a candid interview with WBAL News Radio’s T.J. Smith, Moore said, “It was my decision. I ordered his resignation.”
The move marks a leadership shakeup in a critical state agency that Moore says was struggling to deliver results fast enough. Moore announced that Betsy Fox Tolentino, currently managing director at The Roca Impact Institute and a veteran of Maryland’s juvenile justice system, will serve as acting secretary beginning June 11.
Moore’s office issued a press release Monday evening confirming the change but offered no explanation at the time. Schiraldi later told The Baltimore Banner that he had been planning to step down later in the year, but Moore’s administration accelerated the timeline after he shared his plans.
The governor, a Democrat, dismissed the idea that ideological differences were behind the decision. Instead, he emphasized the need for faster progress. “My expectations are high and my patience is low,” Moore said, describing the leadership role as “complicated and demanding.”
Moore said both he and Schiraldi inherited an agency weakened by staffing shortages and limited resources. While Schiraldi introduced reforms focused on helping at-risk youth, especially those vulnerable to gun violence, Moore said the pace of change didn’t match the urgency of the moment.
Tolentino, who spent over a decade at the Department of Juvenile Services and previously worked as a public defender, will now lead the agency through a critical period. Moore has charged her with improving operations, upgrading state-run youth facilities, and strengthening partnerships to deliver better outcomes for Maryland’s youth.
Though Schiraldi told The Banner he recommended Tolentino for the job, Moore downplayed that input. “That didn’t influence my decision,” he said, noting that Tolentino had broad support across the state.
Criminologist Alexis Piquero, a longtime colleague of Schiraldi, praised him as a “change agent” who brought research-based solutions to the field. But, he noted, juvenile justice systems are notoriously slow-moving and face steep challenges—including funding, staffing, and systemic issues beyond any leader’s control.
Tolentino’s appointment will require confirmation by the Maryland Senate during the next legislative session.
Moore Says He Ordered Juvenile Services Chief To Resign, Cites Lack Of Urgency was originally published on wolbbaltimore.com
