Governor O'Malley, Secretary DeVore Announce Sucessful Exit of Consent Decree with United States Department of Justice
Hickey and Cheltenham Facilities 100% Compliant on CRIPA Settlement Agreement
ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 25, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley, joined by Department of Juvenile Services Secretary Donald DeVore, today announced that the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) successfully exited out of a three year consent decree with the United States Department of Justice regarding the Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School and Cheltenham Youth Facility, and is completely compliant on 56 separate provisions of the settlement agreement.
“I am proud to announce that these facilities are 100 percent compliant with the CRIPA standards. This is a true turning point for the future of Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services to ensure that every child has the services and support necessary to succeed,” said Governor O’Malley.
On June 29, 2005, the State of Maryland entered into an agreement with the United States Department of Justice pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) regarding the conditions of confinement at the Charles Hickey, Jr. School and the Cheltenham Youth Facility. The areas covered included: Protection from Harm, Suicide Prevention, Mental Health, Special Education, Medical Care, Fire Safety and Quality Assurance. DJS reached compliance on the 56 separate provisions just days before the end of the three year settlement agreement. On May 17, 2007, Secretary DeVore voluntarily entered into an agreement with the Department of Justice for the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center and anticipates exiting that agreement in under two years.
“My staff worked exceptionally hard to improve services to our most vulnerable youth within our facilities and will continue to move forward with the same momentum to exit out of the agreement at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center,” said Secretary Donald DeVore.
The CRIPA federal monitors’ most recent report due for release on June 30, 2008, notes that the monitoring team received “outstanding cooperation” from DJS’ administration and staff. The team found the effort and diligence of the DJS leadership and the dedication and responsiveness of the DJS direct care staff to be critical to the successful completion of this settlement agreement.
“The Department of Juvenile Services has devoted significant effort to improving conditions for the youth at Cheltenham and Hickey. The behavioral health and educational enhancements are particularly noteworthy and will serve these youth well on their path to adulthood,” said Marlana Valdez, Director of the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit.
For years, the Department of Juvenile Services was a struggling state agency, but last year, under Governor O’Malley’s and Secretary DeVore’s leadership, the Department began the long-needed reform by:
- Increasing funding by $76 million to the Department;
- Passing a $188 million Capital Improvement Plan to construct two new, smaller treatment facilities and replace the now compliant, but outdated, Cheltenham and Hickey detention facilities;
- Creating a Juvenile Violence Prevention Unit in Baltimore City to identify and appropriate supervise who are at high risk to become victims or perpetrators of violent crime;
- Expanding use of electronic monitoring by deploying Global Positioning Systems to track an additional 100 high-risk juvenile offenders in the community. GPS holds youth accountable in real time, while allowing them to remain in the community and out of detention facilities;
- Increasing utilization of Baltimore City’s Operation Safe Kids program, a proven public health-based approach to providing intensive services and services to high-risk youth. In the past six months utilization of available slots has increased from 59 to 92 percent;
- Expanding the use of committed community placements through evidence-based programs such as Multi-systemic Therapy and Functional Family Therapy, and signing the first state-local compact with Baltimore County to support these alternative programs;
- Increasing use of detention alternatives for pre-adjudication youth by 30 percent;
- Reducing the number of youth placed out of state by 20 percent;
- Reducing the average length of stay for youth by 30 percent;
- Passing legislation allowing police to release names and photographs of youth who have escaped from secure residential or detention facilities;
- Opening the Victor Cullen Academy, the first new state-run committed program in 25 years;
- Re-opening the Schaefer House, DJS’ dedicated substance abuse treatment program, in Baltimore City;
- Banning the use of restraints at private treatment facilities; and
- Piloting an innovative pre-apprenticeship program to introduce committed youth to skilled trade career options with 15 trade unions over a ten-week program.
