Moore appoints acting correctional ombudsman to lead new office

Gov. Wes Moore appointed Yvonne Briley-Wilson on Friday to serve as acting correctional ombudsman leading the new Office of Correctional Ombudsman.

Briley-Wilson, an attorney and executive director, will be nominated to fill the role officially during the next state legislative session, which begins in January, for Senate confirmation, according to a statement released by Moore’s office.

“Our entire administration is confident in her ability to create a safer and more transparent correctional system,” Moore said in the statement. “Yvonne will work to forge stronger partnerships, drive positive change and position Maryland to be a national leader in public safety and criminal justice.”

As acting ombudsman, Briley-Wilson is tasked with establishing practices and procedures “to help minimize risks to the health, safety, and welfare of incarcerated individuals,” according to Moore’s office. The ombudsman will also advise incarcerated individuals, families and others about the rights of those incarcerated.

During the 2024 state legislative session, Moore signed a bill into law establishing the office, which is meant to serve as an independent oversight body. It will ensure the integrity of Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and Maryland Department of Juvenile Services operations by conducting investigations and reviews, Moore’s office said. The new office also can also refer investigations for criminal charges if illegal actions are discovered, and it will have oversight of the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit.

Briley-Wilson “has experience working with and advocating for diverse populations in labor, public defense, corrections, and juvenile services,” the statement said. She previously served as the executive director of the SEIU Local 500 labor union and the employee and labor relations director for the Michigan Education Association. She was also an assistant public defender in Maryland, supervising juvenile court attorneys and managing cases, and a children’s supervisor for a juvenile detention center and a correctional officer in Virginia.