March 17th 2024.
The city of Baltimore recently made a significant move in their efforts to combat crime. Mayor Brandon Scott, alongside other city officials, announced the indictment of 12 individuals who are believed to be involved in a drug trafficking organization. This comes after a four-month-long investigation in the Irvington neighborhood on the Southside of Baltimore.
During a press conference on March 14th, Mayor Scott expressed the importance of these indictments in reducing crime within the city. He stated, "This is about targeting those responsible for perpetuating violence in our communities and causing harm." The city's Group Violence Reduction Strategy, which was implemented as part of the investigation, resulted in the arrest of 10 individuals between the ages of 17 and 35. The main goal of this strategy was to provide an opportunity for those involved in criminal activities to turn their lives around and leave the streets. However, Mayor Scott made it clear that those who chose not to cooperate would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
"We do not want to send young men to prison, but if they refuse to change their ways, this will be their fate. The choice is theirs," Mayor Scott firmly stated. "When individuals disregard our efforts and continue to engage in violence, we will not hesitate to take action. This is not a game of poker, and I do not bluff. This is the reality they will face."
Stefanie Mavronis, the Director of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, supported Mayor Scott's message by mentioning that the city had offered these individuals a way out. She said, "These members were given an opportunity to participate in a call-in, where we would offer them services and deliver our anti-violence message. Unfortunately, they declined and continued their involvement in violent activities."
Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley also weighed in on the situation, stating that the community has already noticed a positive change since the arrests were made. "The community has reached out to us, expressing their relief and comfort in their neighborhood. The impact of the officers' actions has been evident," he shared.
Baltimore's program is a prime example of the success of community-based interventions in reducing gun violence and overall crime. In a 2022 report, the Center for American Progress cited this program as one of the effective ways to address violence in communities. They wrote, "These programs have shown great success in reducing gun violence and violent crime in various communities over the past two decades, with some seeing a decrease of up to 60%."
However, these programs often face a lack of funding. In Baltimore's case, since the implementation of their program, which is part of a larger Cure Violence initiative, there has been a 30% decrease in gun violence, including shootings and homicides. These programs also play a crucial role in preventing Black individuals from getting trapped in the criminal justice system by providing alternatives to violent crimes. Despite making up only 13% of the population, Black people have suffered from 59% of incidents of gun violence, as of 2020.
In their final thoughts, the Center for American Progress emphasized the importance of implementing programs like Baltimore's in order to effectively address gun violence nationwide. "Community-based violence intervention programs are crucial in combating the rise of gun violence and violent crime. Their success in reducing these rates is evident, and they are also essential in addressing the disproportionate impact of these crimes on communities of color and young people. If America truly wants to tackle this issue, these programs must be part of the solution."
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