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Juvenile Services highlights Thrive Academy, expanded community programs and data gaps; DLS questions funding and facility plan
Summary
The Department of Juvenile Services described program expansions including the Thrive Academy, safer stronger together community investments and workforce initiatives; DLS raised concerns about data collection, a proposed $3 million allocation for a drug treatment center and recommended reductions to an enhanced services continuum appropriation.
Madeline Miller of the Department of Legislative Services presented the Department of Juvenile Services fiscal 2026 analysis, and Secretary of Juvenile Services testified on program expansions, data issues, and proposals for residential and community investments.
Miller said the department's fiscal 2026 budget increases about $22.6 million to $369.3 million, with roughly 45% of the growth attributable to personnel costs. The DLS analysis detailed juvenile arrest and complaint trends (total arrests down 38.6% over five years with an 11.9% increase between calendar 2022 and 2023), changes in nonresidential and residential populations, and increased average length of stay for certain detained groups. Miller also noted several budget actions and proposed deficiencies including overtime funding, IT security upgrades and adjustments related to MD THINK and CJAMS case-management systems. DLS recommended deleting a $3 million general fund appropriation proposed to reopen the Catoctin treatment center because the facility did not appear in the department's facilities master plan, and…
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