January 2nd, 2025 by WCBC Radio

Staffing problems are a prominent issue in the juvenile justice system in Maryland. Increasing assaults on staff by youth are seen as just one reason staffing is low. Mandated overtime of multiple 16-hour days each week are driving employees elsewhere.  Kevin Miller who works at the Backbone Mountain Youth Center spoke at a recent news conference saying that effective programs are not possible with current safety problems…

   

“Our ratio are one staff person to eight youth. But, if two kids get into a disagreement, until relief gets there we have to get them to stop fighting by ourselves. Not everyone is my size who works there and it can take a while to get things under control. If we had the staff we needed, it would go a long way toward making sure such incidents don’t happen and having a smooth-running shift.”