Latest news with #GVRS
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Youth violence reduction to be focus of Ivan Bates annual community town hall
Baltimore City State's Attorney, Ivan Bates, is hosting his second annual Public Safety Townhall, Community Conversation Tuesday. The town hall will include Bates and other city leaders, and focus on discussing strategies for reducing juvenile crime. Crime involving youth in Baltimore City Curbing violence among juveniles has been an ongoing task for Baltimore City leaders. Just Monday, two teens aged 15 and 16 were injured after a shooting in Southeast Baltimore. On April 26, two 17-year-olds were injured after a shooting in Southwest Baltimore. Days later, a group of 16 teenagers were charged with a string of violent crimes, including robbery, auto theft, and assault. The overall effort to reduce crime in the city has persisted for years, with some positive results. Baltimore Mayor Scott's crime reduction efforts Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott has implemented multiple programs to reduce youth violence, including the city's Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS). Scott has praised the program, crediting it for helping the city reach a 24% reduction in homicides, and a 34% reduction in non-fatal shootings in 2024 compared to 2023. According to the Mayor, GVRS "facilitates direct, sustained engagement with a small number of group-involved individuals who are the most likely to be the victim or perpetrator of violence." The program first launched in Baltimore's Western District in January 2022 and later expanded to the Southwestern, Central, and Eastern Districts. The city also implemented the Summer Youth Engagement Strategy. To help deter violence, the initiative established a curfew for city youth, along with specialized youth programming. Scott said that after implementing the program last summer, the number of shooting victims decreased by 66%, and the number of aggravated assault victims dropped by 31%. The programming includes 42 summer campsites through recreation and parks, and the return of the city's Rock the Block parties, midnight basketball, and parties at the Druid Hill Pool. In addition, hours at nine of the city's recreation centers throughout the city will be extended until 11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday from June 20 until Aug. 16.
CBS News
09-04-2025
- CBS News
City leaders to announce takedown of group connected to drug trafficking in south Baltimore
Baltimore City leaders, including Mayor Brandon Scott, and Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown will announce the takedown of a group who they allege is connected to violence and fentanyl overdoses in South Baltimore. The takedown is one of multiple recent busts as a result of Baltimore's Group Violence Reduction Strategy. In a major takedown dubbed 'Operation Tornado Alley' , police targeted four criminal organizations operating in Southwest Baltimore. The six-month-long investigation that ended in Nov. 2024 involved collaboration with between city and federal law enforcement led to the recovery of nearly $400,000 in cash, large amounts of cocaine and fentanyl, and the seizure of nearly 70 guns. The evidence also included 15 stolen cars. After the takedown, police said they put a stop to a planned murder. The bust resulted in the indictment of nearly 40 individuals, ranging from ages 16 through 60. Investigators said the group operated in the 2000 block of West Pratt Street; the 500 block of Millington Avenue; the 1700 block of Lemmon Street; and the 2800 block of Edmondson Avenue. Baltimore's GVRS program has been credited as being a driving force behind the reduction of violent crime in the city. Baltimore City Mayor Scott says the program has helped Baltimore achieve significant drops in gun violence. Homicides went down 23% in 2024, with a total of 201 compared to 261 homicides in 2023.
CBS News
18-03-2025
- CBS News
Two sentenced for leading violent drug trafficking organization, Maryland AG says
Two Baltimore men were sentenced Monday for leading a violent drug trafficking organization in Baltimore City, according to the Maryland Attorney General's Office. James Brunson, 41, and Ernest Hudson, 38, were charged with conspiring to supervise a criminal organization, among other charges. The organization operated in Baltimore City's Shipley Booth-Boyd and Fayette Street neighborhoods. Hudson pleaded guilty on August 12 to several charges including supervising a criminal organization, distribution of a large amount of fentanyl, and possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with the first 5 years to be served without the possibility of parole. Brunson pleaded guilty on March 10 to several charges, including conspiring to supervise a criminal organization and the illegal possession of a regulated firearm, the AG said. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the first 15 years suspended in favor of 3 years supervised probation. The first five years of his sentenced will be served without the possibility of parole. In March 2023, 33 individuals were indicted following a 16-month organization. The operation was a collaborative effort between the Maryland Attorney General's Office and the Baltimore Police Department. "Cases like this one that remove guns, drugs, and dangerous people from our streets make our communities safer and serve as a clear warning: if you choose to spread violence and terrorize our neighbors, we will find you, we will prosecute you, and you will be held fully accountable," Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said. The 33 indicted individuals, aged 21 to 54, face charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled dangerous substances and firearms offenses. The organization relied on a "complex hierarchy of suppliers, managers, street lieutenants, and low-level street dealers," distributing heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, the AG said in a statement . Officials said the gang used violence, and the threat of violence, to enforce their territory in south, southwest, and west Baltimore. Three of the suspects were charged with first-degree attempted murder related to shootings captured on camera. Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott commented, noting that the city's Group Violence Reduction Strategy has played a role in reducing crime. "GVRS continues to allow us to pursue the violent groups who are most responsible for harming our communities," Scott said. "While we offer those at the highest risk of violence a way out of life through services and life coaching, we have to balance support for those who want it with accountability for those who choose to continue to use guns and participate in violent groups." Mayor Scott has frequently mentioned the GVRS program in discussions of reducing violent crime in the city. The program , which pairs community violence intervention with proactive policing - has been implemented in four of the nine police districts in Baltimore. Scott credited the program for the 34% decrease in non-fatal shootings between 2023 and 2024 in Baltimore City. The city also saw a 74% reduction in teen victims of homicides and non-fatal shootings in 2024. Homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore are down compared to this time last year, Scott said last month . Scott has said more work remains to continue reducing violence. "My administration remains committed to approaching public safety the right way, emphasizing violence prevention & intervention alongside law enforcement, and working with partners across all levels of government, in the judicial system, and – most importantly – in our communities," the mayor said in a social media post last month .
CBS News
06-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Baltimore City sees continued reduction in homicides, non-fatal shootings in 2025
BALTIMORE -- Homicides and non-fatal shooting in Baltimore are down compared to this time last year, according to an announcement from Mayor Brandon Scott. As of February 3, 2025, homicides in the city were down 17.6%, and nonfatal shootings are down 10.7% compared to the same time in 2024. As of this morning, homicides are down 17.6% & nonfatal shootings are down 10.7% compared to this time last year. This is on top of the 23% drop in homicides and 34% decrease in nonfatal shootings we saw in 2024, and the 20.3% reduction in homicides the city experienced in 2023. — Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) February 3, 2025 Crime reduction data shows progress Baltimore City has seen a steady reduction in violent crime, with a 34% decrease in non-fatal shootings, and a 23% reduction in homicides between 2023 and 2024. The progress builds on a near 20% decrease in homicides between 2022 and 2023. In 2024, the city saw 3,157 victims of gun violence, including victims of shootings, fatal, non-fatal, and any armed encounters, according to data from CBS News. 172 of those victims died as a result of those incidents, according to the data. In January, the Baltimore Police Department announced that non-fatal shootings decreased by 34%, while youth gun violence victims fell by 74%, according to the department's year-end crime report. BPD also achieved above-average clearance rates nationally, solving 68% of homicides and 69% of aggravated assaults. Gun Violence Reduction Strategy Reducing violent crime has been a priority for Mayor Brandon Scott. In a press conference last month, Scott said community violence intervention and proactive policing are two strategies the city has implemented to reduce crime. At the forefront of Scott's crime reduction strategy has been the city's Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) program. "Creating a safer Baltimore remains our top priority," BPD Police Commissioner Richard Worley said, attributing the violence reduction to GVRS, which has been implemented in four of nine police districts. The program combines law enforcement efforts with resources to prevent potential violence. The reductions occurred despite having fewer officers on the streets and amid ongoing police reforms. The department also reported decreases in carjackings, assaults, and robberies. Mayor Brandon Scott cautioned against celebration, emphasizing that one murder victim is too many. "We are seeing promising signs that Baltimore's homicide and nonfatal shooting numbers are continuing to trend in the right direction. However, any one life lost to violence is one too many." Scott said in another social media post. "My administration remains committed to approaching public safety the right way, emphasizing violence prevention & intervention alongside law enforcement, and working with partners across all levels of government, in the judicial system, and – most importantly – in our communities."
