READ IT: Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott Releases 3-Pillar City Crime Plan Friday
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Mayor Brandon Scott unveiled his three-pillar city crime plan Friday morning.
Scott rolled out a new Baltimore City Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan in three events across the city, featuring the three "pillars" of the plan.
It's the "first-of-its-kind public safety strategy" and the final product of Scott's Draft Violence Prevention Framework and Plan that received feedback from hundreds of residents in more than 36 public community sessions. It will go into effect from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026.
The mayor has said he wants to "deliver a holistic, comprehensive approach to combat gun violence and its root causes in Baltimore."
"For the first time, Baltimore residents were asked what they wanted to see in a public safety strategy and they spoke up," said Scott. "This Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan reflects the voice of Baltimoreans who want to see change in their communities. It is a path to sustainably reduce violent crime in Baltimore using a public health approach, and ultimately save lives."
The first event at the Rose Street Community Center highlighted the public health approach. Scott led efforts to create a city-wide 9-1-1 call diversion program, so that behavioral health care calls will be taken by the City's Trauma-Informed Care Task Force. This allows police to focus on violence reduction.
The city also re-established the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and is working with Everytown for Gun Safety for a data portal to hold gun traffickers and straw purchasers accountable.
"As a lifelong Baltimorean, I am grateful to fellow residents for their willingness to partner in the work of co-producing public safety," said MONSE Director Shantay A. Jackson. "Crafting a public health approach to violence is about simultaneously addressing gun violence and unearthing its root causes. This plan employs approaches that provide the maximum benefit for all residents - regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or zip code."
The second event in Antonio's Barber Shop at 1:30 p.m. will highlight community engagement and inter-agency collaboration. The final event at the Coppin State University Talon Center at 3 p.m. will highlight evaluation and accountability.
Baltimore has had 300 plus murders every year since 2015.
Portions of the plan focuses on stopping the violence before it occurs and providing resources for young to prevent them from entering a life of crime.
And if someone ends up going to jail, the city wants to set them up with jobs before they get released.
"Baltimore has got to do a better job at providing services for people who are returning home from prison and this work Hass to start prior to their release," says Shantay Jackson the director of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.
Another section of the plan will focus on the progress of the initiative. The mayor said his office will be required to give city council members updates on how the five-year plan is working. State's attorney Marilyn Mosby said city leadership is now on the same page.
"Now this mayor Mayor Scott the commissioner and I, our federal partners our community partners are all philosophically aligned when it comes to crime and holistically attacking The root causes of crime," says State's Attorney Mosby.
Read it below:
https://mayor.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/MayorScott-ComprehensiveViolencePreventionPlan.pdf
