Overview

• Gov. Wes Moore installed Tolentino on June 11 after demanding Vincent Schiraldi’s resignation over the agency’s direction and pace of reforms.
• Tolentino, who served previously as DJS deputy secretary and led youth justice initiatives at The Roca Impact Institute, said she will audit operations to ensure compliance with Maryland’s juvenile justice statutes.
• She pledged to expand public and media access to departmental data and decision-making processes to rebuild community confidence.
• Top prosecutors have urged her to transfer detention decisions to a judicial magistrate, and she is evaluating whether to adjust current agency protocols.
• DJS facilities continue to struggle with staffing shortages and low morale, prompting her to review resource allocation and frontline staff support.