ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore today announced the appointment of Betsy Fox Tolentino as Maryland Department of Juvenile Services Acting Secretary. Tolentino will assume the post as acting secretary on June 11th.
“My highest priority is keeping our communities safe. My administration has marshaled an all-of-government, statewide response that has produced remarkable gains — Maryland has seen significant drops in crime and according to preliminary data, homicides and non-fatal shootings are the lowest they've been in a decade,”
said Gov. Moore. “We knew when we took office that the Department of Juveniles Services was one of the most troubled in all of State government. We need to continue to move fast and diligently in order to turn it around. I am pleased that Betsy Fox Tolentino has raised her hand to serve and will lead the department during the next critical phase of this work. Her focus on safety for all communities is defined by executional excellence, accountability for justice-involved youth, support for the staff who serve them, and sturdy grounding in the law is exactly what we need at this moment.”
Betsy Fox Tolentino currently serves as managing director of juvenile and young adult justice initiatives at nationally-renowned nonprofit The Roca Impact Institute, where she leads the scaling and capacity-building of young adult justice projects with strategic regional and national partnerships. The role has enabled Tolentino to see and inform some of the best juvenile justice efforts in the country.
Tolentino brings 18 years of experience focused on criminal and juvenile justice advocacy, policy development, and building systems to meet the diverse needs of Maryland’s communities. Prior to her role with The Roca Impact Institute, Tolentino served as the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services Deputy Secretary of Community Operations. Among other accomplishments, she built innovative integrations between police departments and the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services to maximize coordination and improve public safety.
Tolentino volunteers with community-based organizations, serves on the Mentor MD/DC board of directors, and is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She is a graduate of Southern Oregon University and Widener University School of Law.
“I am thankful for Secretary Schiraldi’s service to Maryland while leading an organization that shapes the lives of our young people who need support. I wish him well in his next endeavors,”
said Senate President Bill Ferguson. “I also want to congratulate Betsy Tolentino on her nomination as secretary. Ms. Tolentino's experience in successful operations at the Department of Juvenile Services will be important to the next phase of the work for the agency. Her organizational management skills will be an asset to reform. I look forward to meeting with her to gain a better understanding of her vision to enhance accountability, rehabilitation, and collaboration within the justice system for young people in Maryland.”
“Betsy Tolentino brings a great deal of experience working on issues related to juvenile justice in Maryland. She has worked at both DJS and private organizations that rehabilitate kids in the juvenile justice system,”
said House Judiciary Committee Chair Luke Clippinger. “I look forward to working with her and the governor as they work to improve programming and outcomes at the Department of Juvenile Services.”
“Governor Wes Moore’s appointment of Betsy Fox-Tolentino as Secretary of DJS marks a new day and a new chapter for juvenile services in Maryland,”
said Judicial Proceedings Committee Member Senator Mike McKay. “I’m confident in her leadership and deeply thankful to the governor for addressing the concerns of my constituents and our state with this thoughtful and capable choice.”
“I wholly support Betsy Tolentino's appointment as acting secretary for the Department of Juvenile Services. She is a critical leader for this moment, with a deep understanding of the challenges young people face and what they are capable of achieving with the right support in the system,”
said Roca, Inc. Founder and Chief Executive Officer Molly Baldwin. “Betsy has always been willing to do whatever it takes to support young people and do what's best for public safety. I look forward to continuing our work together as she steps into this new role.”
“Vinny Schiraldi brought decades of experience and innovative thinking to the task of running the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services,”
said Gov. Moore. “He put immense energy and effort into his work and moved important new efforts forward — to include the
award-winning Thrive Academy—and we thank him for his service.”