* UPDATE: 2024-12-03 The citizen petition to remove Secretary of DJS Vincent Schiraldi, whose catch and release policies have put everyone at risk started in East Baltimore, the epicenter of juvenile violence crimes. But, as the violence has spread beyond East Baltimore, so has the petition. 

Please sign and share. Signatures are sent to Governor Moore in hard copy batches of 1,000, with comments included. 

Citizen Petition to Recall Vincent Schiraldi
September 30, 2024
To The Office of Maryland Governor Wes Moore
110 State Circle, Annapolis, Maryland 21401-1925 (410)974.3901

We, The Undersigned Business Owners, Property Owners, and Residents of Baltimore City, specifically of the area surrounding Patterson Park: Butchers Hill, Canton, Highlandtown, Fells Point, Patterson Park, Upper Fells Point, demand the immediate voluntary resignation or removal by Maryland Governor Wes Moore if immediate voluntary resignation is not offered of current Maryland Secretary of Juvenile Services Vincent Schiraldi.

The number of crimes committed by juveniles and the severity of the crimes committed  by juveniles in our area since Secretary Schiraldi accepted the position of Secretary of Juvenile Services from Maryland Governor Wes Moore is unprecedented.

June 2024 Baltimore City Police Department juvenile arrest statistics post-appointment of Secretary Schiraldi: overall arrests: 2022= 278, 2024= 348, assault and robbery: 2022=18, 2024=93, stolen auto: 2022=49, 2024=92.

Regarding increasing juvenile crime States Attorney Ivan Bates has publicly stated multiple times in 2024, “Juvenile crime in Baltimore City is out of control.” States Attorney Office juvenile crime cases statistics post-appointment of Secretary Schiraldi: 2022=191, 2024=590 for the January 1st to July 15th period, respectively.

The quality of life for business owners, property owners, residents, and visitors in the areas surrounding Patterson Park has been unacceptably compromised by the failed policies of Secretary Schiraldi, who has made no public comment on his personally designed policy of releasing juveniles under the age of fifteen (15) without charges or sentencing before a judge. The policies of Secretary Schiraldi have allowed juveniles to
repeatedly prey on our business owners, property owners, residents, and visitors with violent disregard for life and safety, often hours after being released. Many of these juvenile crimes are committed with handguns, lethal and non-lethal weapons, and gross physical abuse of victims, usually in groups of three or more.

With our signatures, We, The Undersigned Baltimore City Business Owners, Property Owners, and Residents signal our full and total lack of confidence and trust in the leadership of Secretary Vincent Schiraldi and make clear our demand:

We call on Maryland Governor Wes Moore to remove Secretary Schiraldi immediately. Maryland state law allows a governor removal power over agency officials and we call upon our duly elected state leader to do so immediately. We include in our call for supporting immediate removal, 1st District City Councilmember Zeke Cohen, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott, and State Delegate Robbyn Lewis.