Vincent Schiraldi’s New Role
Vincent Schiraldi, the former leader of Maryland’s Juvenile Services, has joined the transition team for New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Schiraldi was removed from his position over the summer due to criticism regarding his lenient approach towards juvenile offenders.
The specific role that Schiraldi will play in Mamdani’s administration remains unclear. At 66 years old, he has a background in advising juvenile policies in cities like San Francisco and Washington, D.C., and has managed juvenile criminal systems both in the capital and Maryland.
Democratic leaders who advocate for progressive reforms seem to be attracted to Schiraldi’s philosophy against incarceration. In 2023, newly elected Maryland Governor Wes Moore appointed him as secretary for the Department of Juvenile Services.
However, Schiraldi’s focus on rehabilitation rather than incarceration faced backlash even from some liberal figures, including Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, who welcomed his departure at Moore’s request. His exit followed a tumultuous spring where juveniles accused of serious crimes often avoided jail time.
In May, Laurel police reported that a 16-year-old linked to over 100 car break-ins was released just five hours after arrest. Similarly, a 17-year-old girl charged with assault during a carjacking attempt was placed on an ankle monitor before being taken into custody again shortly after.
A separate case involved a 17-year-old boy granted supervised release after allegedly causing severe injuries to a man who later died. Baltimore’s top prosecutor noted that only about 23% of children facing felony charges were being detained by the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS).
After his ousting, Schiraldi wrote an op-ed expressing concern over the disproportionate charging and jailing of juveniles, particularly Black boys in Maryland. He stated that he chose to leave his position to advocate more forcefully for change outside the confines of departmental responsibilities.
The former secretary is now a visiting fellow at the Pinkerton Foundation and has previously worked with juvenile systems in Washington D.C. and attempted reforms within New York City’s Department of Corrections.
Scharaldi will collaborate with anti-incarceration advocates as part of Mamdani’s transition team. Notable members include Daniel Ades from the Center for Justice Innovation and Brooklyn College sociology professor Alex Vitale, author of “The End of Policing,” who critiques traditional policing methods.
