ANNAPOLIS – Bob Ehrlich, candidate for Governor, released the following statement today regarding the Maryland Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit’s report concerning conditions at Cheltenham Youth Facility.
“Ms. Wheeling’s senseless death is a tragedy that should have been avoided. The findings from the state’s Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit highlight systematic failures occurring within Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services, for which its senior leadership is responsible. This department has experienced challenges for many years, yet it’s clear from this report that conditions remains totally unacceptable under the O’Malley Administration for both children and staff. We must place greater emphasis on improving security and eliminating overcrowding in our facilities if we are to make real progress rehabilitating these youths.”
2 comments:
The overcrowding issue needs to be addressed especially since the state has been considering closing down dozens of facilities to house troubled youth.
The resident advisors need to stay on top of the kids. Even in smaller rehabilitation homes kids escape with a 3 to 1 ratio, that is unacceptable and should warrant immediate dismissal of the failing staff member.
Too many people are put into those positions that only yearn for a paycheck not because they are truly passionate about helping the kids. Regardless of how you feel about juveniles in trouble with the law deserve a place where staff puts in an effort to help them see the errors in their ways and gives the advice on how to improve their lives when they are released. It's really a shame that paychecks are being given to those who do not perform all their duties in the position when those that truly care cannot get into the juvenile system to help the kids.
Donald W. DeVore wrote a critical letter to legislative leaders, senate president Mike Miller & house leader Michael Busch, in January of 2010 demanding that the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit back off in their overzealous, inaccurate reporting of DJS facilities. The month following DeVore’s arrogant written appeal to the two top legislative leaders, the horrible tragedy at Cheltenham occurs. Had DJS officials heeded the JJMU’s findings, perhaps……… This attitude from a guy who was moonlighting as a federal monitor here in MD when he was supposed to be leading & reforming the state of Connecticut’s juvenile system. Even with his head start & advanced knowledge of MD, based on his federal moonlighting here, Devore has not delivered the reform MD was promised .
The flagship program to lead MD’s efforts to replicate the successful regional “Missouri Model” approach, the Victor Cullen Center, has been a disaster. The guy Devore picked to direct the Cullen regional flagship program turned out to have a questionable past based on reports of abusive practice in a Montana military program for juvenile offenders. After some muddling remarks regarding the DJS vetting process, Devore’s choice to lead the statewide reform initiative in MD ended up under the bus even though Devore worked with him previously at VisionQuest, a private juvenile jail outfit. Then there was the riot at Cullen & staff injuries; escape cover-ups; escalating violence at BCJJC continuing even after his publicized “personal touch” mentoring at this Baltimore facility; sexual acting out at DJS youth camps cited in a federal report; it goes on and on and on and……………………………. Read the JJMU quarterly reports.
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