The Office conducts investigations, reviews, and assessments of administrative acts taken by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the Department of Juvenile Services, or in relation to individuals confined by either department. It also is authorized to refer criminal charges if any investigation undertaken by the Office finds illegal activity inside the State’s criminal justice system.
Appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent, the Correctional Ombudsman heads the Office (Code State Government Article, secs. 9-4001 through 9-4006).
Under the Office is the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit.
JUVENILE JUSTICE MONITORING UNIT
In October 2002, the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit originated as the Office of the Independent Juvenile Justice Monitor within the Office for Children, Youth, and Families (Chapter 255, Acts of 2002). At that time, the Office oversaw the residential facilities where youth who were serious and chronic offenders were confined. Formerly, these residential facilities were supervised by the Department of Juvenile Justice. Later, the Office of the Independent Juvenile Justice Monitor evaluated the process by which the Department of Juvenile Services monitored these residential facilities. The Office also reviewed the treatment of youth, examining allegations of child abuse or neglect in the facilities. In addition, the Office evaluated services to youth, and the physical conditions of each facility. In February 2006, the Office of the Independent Juvenile Justice Monitor transferred to the Office of Attorney General, and was renamed the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit (Chapter 12, Acts of 2006). In July 2024, the Unit was made part of the Office of the Correctional Ombudsman (Chapter 836, Acts of 2024).
The Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit investigates the needs of children under the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Services and determines whether those needs are being met in compliance with State law, that the rights of children are being upheld, and that the children are not being abused. To that end, the Unit evaluates the condition of facilities housing detained juvenile offenders, the treatment of and services to youths, and child advocacy grievance processes (Code State Government Article, secs. 9-4011 through 9-4016).
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e-mail: mdmanual@maryland.gov
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