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Department of Juvenile Services presses forward with Maryland Youth Residential Center; temporary pending‑placement units cited as cost‑efficient
Summary
DJS requested continued funding to design the Maryland Youth Residential Center and described using pending‑placement treatment units inside detention facilities to provide earlier treatment while avoiding the cost of reopening closed treatment centers.
Madeline Miller of DLS presented the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) capital analysis and noted DJS has one active capital project in the FY26 allowance: continued design of the Maryland Youth Residential Center (MYRC), a renovation and two‑story addition in Baltimore City to create a 24‑bed hardware‑secure committed treatment facility for male youth. The total estimated project cost is $49.7 million, up about 7.7% from the 2024 CIP estimate. DLS recommended approving the $1.15 million FY26 design authorization and noted a $1.5 million deauthorization for the cancelled Cheltenham Youth Treatment Center project.
Secretary Vincent Schiraldi said DJS supports the MYRC funding and explained why the department established three pending‑placement treatment units inside detention centers: they allow youth awaiting placement to begin treatment earlier and reduce time in treatment later. “What used to happen before was that kids would just sit and wait till they got to go to their residential treatment program,” Schiraldi said. He added that staffing a reopened closed facility is expensive: DJS estimates it would require about 141 staff to operate a 25‑bed facility, a cost the department judged disproportionate given current population trends.
DJS’s master plan projects current detention capacity will remain adequate over the next decade and recommends adding MYRC to increase committed treatment capacity for male youth. The department also described the YOLO Academy, a vocational residential treatment program planned to serve roughly 20 male youth focused on workforce training, beginning January 2026. DLS asked DJS to explain which master plan projects may be eligible for the DGS facility renewal program and to update on procurement progress for MYRC design; DJS said DGS had submitted documentation to procure architectural services and the solicitation would be posted shortly.
