DJS confirms employment programs pays youth offenders $19.29 per hour

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — The recent sentencing of Tristan Jackson, one of five defendants convicted in connection to the Brooklyn Day mass shooting, has led to new information and questions surrounding the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) and its paid employment programs.

When questioned, DJS confirmed under Secretary Vincent Schiraldi’s leadership he created the ‘Office of Workforce Development.’

ALSO READ | Brooklyn Day defendant on probation, interning at DJS during 2023 shooting, attorney says

This includes the Green Cadet program, Youth Opportunity Learning Occupations (YOLO) program, as well as Summer Youth Employment, according to DJS.

DJS confirmed the first two programs pay enrolled youth offenders $19.29/hour.

That amount translates to a $40,000 annual salary.

According to DJS, the Green Cadet Program is a six-month transitional employment program for young people who are being supervised by DJS in the community. There are 16 slots.

According to DJS, youth in detention or placement programs can take part in the paid working experience program called YOLO. There are 35 slots.

DJS said it also offers Summer Youth Employment which partners with other state agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources, and in 2025 there will be 160 blots, with DJS funding.

“Research shows youth who work jobs and learn to work are much more likely to avoid trouble in the future,” a DJS spokesperson wrote.

But that’s not what happened with Tristan Jackson.

ALSO READ | Calls for change at DJS intensify following fatal crash involving stolen vehicle

While it’s unclear exactly what program the now 20-year-old was enrolled in, Jackson’s attorney revealed in court that, at the time of the mass shooting, Jackson was wearing an ankle monitor and working as a paid intern with DJS.

DJS won’t comment on specific cases or individuals as that information is protected by law.

Legal expert Jeremy Eldridge who is not associated with Jackson’s case weighed in on the revelations.

“Why is somebody who is on supervision and wearing an ankle monitor getting paid by the Department of Juvenile Services for an internship?” Eldridge questioned. “It’s odd that you have an offender working for an agency while they are under supervision while that same agency fails to adequately monitor the youth and then he commits a violent crime.”

Political analyst John Dedie weighed in on the amount these enrolled youth offenders are being paid.

“I think that is exorbitantly high to try to pay someone enough money to make sure they stay on the straight and narrow,” Dedie said.

FOX45 News sent a list of follow up questions to DJS, including asking how DJS justifies paying a juvenile offender this amount. The Department responded:

When Secretary Schiraldi arrived at DJS, one of the main requests coming from youth was for job training and access programs. Unfortunately under prior administrations there was little if any workforce development programming or opportunities provided for youth under DJS care. Research shows youth who work jobs and learn to work are much more likely to avoid trouble in the future. Under Schiraldi, DJS brought onto its team one of the nation’s leaders in workforce development programming for youth in the juvenile justice system, and also created the Office of Workforce Development and programs to support youth who want to work. As a result, over the past two years DJS has substantially increased workforce development opportunities for youth under DJS care. Young people who are being supervised by DJS in the community can take part in the Green Cadet Program, which is a six-month transitional employment program. Under the current administration the Green Cadet program has increased from 8 to 16 youth. Youth who are in detention or placement programs can take part in a newly created program called Youth Opportunity Learning Occupations (known as YOLO), which is a paid working experience program. YOLO has 35 slots for youth. Both programs pay youth $19.29/hour, enabling them to learn trades while also learning their own money management skills. YOLO also involves partnerships with other state agencies, including the Departments of Natural Resources and the Environment. In 2024, 128 slots were made available with DJS funding and 123 were filled/placed. Moving forward, in 2025 we have 160 slots available for Summer Youth Employment, with DJS funding.