Vincent Schiraldi, the former secretary of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), accepted a new position with a grantmaking institution focused on community-based programs for children, youth and families in underserved New York City communities, the organization announced Wednesday.
Schiraldi is joining the Pinkerton Foundation as a visiting fellow. The organization provides grant funding to initiatives focused on youth development with a focus on academic development, career readiness and cultural enrichment.
“I am eager to collaborate with their terrific board, staff, and grantees to create a meaningful discussion about the current state and, more importantly, the future of juvenile justice in the City of New York,” he said in a statement Wednesday.
The Baltimore Sun was unable to reach Schiraldi for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Schiraldi was appointed to head DJS in 2023 by Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat. His appointment was controversial among Republican lawmakers, who raised concern that children were not being held accountable when they commit illegal acts — despite a decline in youth offenses to levels lower than those seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over his two-and-a-half year tenure as the head of DJS, Schiraldi faced harsh criticism from Maryland prosecutors, Republicans and members of the public for his rehabilitative philosophy, which did not show immediate results.
Saying that he had become “a bit of a lightning rod” because of his rehabilitative philosophies where youth crime is concerned, Schiraldi left the agency in June and was replaced by Betsy Fox Tolentino.
Tolentino, who is currently serving as the DJS secretary in an acting capacity, will likely be confirmed to the position by the Maryland Senate when the legislature reconvenes in January.
In a Wednesday statement, Rick Smith, the president and CEO of the Pinkerton Foundation, expressed excitement regarding Schiraldi’s new position while acknowledging he, at times, can be “controversial.”
“Vinny is a dedicated, innovative, outspoken, and sometimes controversial advocate for young people involved in the justice system,” said Smith. “We are delighted to welcome his strong voice and good heart to Pinkerton.”
Schiraldi has a storied background in criminal justice, previously serving as the head of the New York City Department of Probation under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Department of Correction under former Mayor Bill de Blasio. He also headed the Washington, D.C., Juvenile Services Department.
Schiraldi is the founder of both the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice and the Justice Policy Institute, and has taught at Harvard and Columbia University, where he co-founded the Columbia Justice Lab.
“Vinny’s insight and compassion have long inspired leaders in the nonprofit and philanthropic communities,” said April Glad, the senior program officer at the Pinkerton Foundation. “We’re confident that his continuing counsel and guidance will serve our grantees and the city’s youth justice sector well.”
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