After a hearing Monday in Annapolis, a committee decides to wait to make a decision on Maryland Governor Wes Moore's pick to lead the Department of Juvenile Services. That decision comes as we see a rise in juvenile crime across the state.
Vincent Schiraldi, who's set to become Maryland's secretary of DJS, went face-to-face with members of the senate's executive nomination committee.
Several of those members, including Senator Beth Carozza, the republican who represents District 38, which includes Somerset County.
"Many in Maryland don't think we're doing enough to protect them against violent offenders and violent juveniles," said Carozza, directing her question to Schiraldi, "what are your specific plans and approaches to violent juveniles," she asked.
"If (the offenders) are in custody, I want to expand the kind of programs that are going to help those young people turn their lives around," said Schiraldi. "The ones that are in the community, again we need high intensity wraparound services for the highest risk young people," he added.
The governor calls Schiraldi, "a national leader in criminal/juvenile justice and mass incarceration reform."
But opponents have called his strategies dangerous for Maryland.
In the Washington Post, Schiraldi suggested that because the human brain is not fully developed until the mid-twenties....no criminal should be exposed to the adult justice system until they turn 21 or 25.
Right now, if you're 18-years-old..you're sent to the adult system and so are some younger offenders who commit the most horrendous crimes.
At the hearing, those who oppose Schiraldi's strategies and those who support it.
"I'm proud to support your nomination," said Senator William Smith, the democrat who represents District 20, Montgomery County.
"I see in this stack of letters here, strong endorsements, some of I do know very well, (one of them a University of Maryland law professor,) which is an expert in his field. He says he worked with Mr. Schiraldi over the years and has the highest regard for him. Therefore, I do too," said Senator Jim Rosapepe, the democrat who represents District 21, Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties.
In the end, the committee voted to hold off its vote for Schiraldi Monday until additional senators can meet with him individually for more questions.
They say the committee's nomination vote could come later this week, before going to the full senate for a vote.