Md. Juvenile Center Head's Past Probed

Marlana Valdez, director of Maryland's Office of the Independent Juvenile Justice Monitor, said she finds the abuse allegations "troubling," adding that Perkins's appointment raises serious questions about Juvenile Services' hiring practices.

"The findings of the state of Montana against him are quite serious," Valdez said yesterday. "He had an ethical obligation to disclose his background."

The reopening of the 48-bed Cullen Center in July, along with the hiring of Perkins to the $76,000-a-year job, was supposed to signal the beginning of a new era of reform under DeVore, who was appointed by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D). O'Malley campaigned on a promise to repair the state's broken juvenile detention system. The once-overburdened facility houses male youths, most of whom have been charged with minor offenses.

Maryland has struggled for years to reform its troubled juvenile detention system, which houses up to 800 youths at facilities across the state. In 2005, the U.S. Justice Department found that conditions at some of the facilities violated residents' constitutional rights. Federal officials cited a pattern of a "deeply disturbing degree of physical abuse" by staff members.

Under a settlement with the Justice Department, the state is required to improve suicide prevention, mental health care and special education services for juveniles in its care. The independent monitors issue regular reports on the state's juvenile justice facilities.

Brown said Juvenile Services officials became aware of the Montana allegations after Baltimore City Paper reported them this month. She said Perkins had received "glowing recommendations" from former employer VisionQuest, which has programs in Pennsylvania and several other states.

Gerry Fox, lodge director for VisionQuest in Pennsylvania, said Perkins worked in a management position with the organization from last December until May and left in "good standing."