Praise for violence reduction in Baltimore

It’s always nice to give credit where credit is due. And we give credit to the Mayor of Baltimore, the State’s Attorney and the Baltimore Police Department for introducing and expanding Baltimore’s  Group Violence Reduction Strategy.

GVRS was introduced in the Western Police District in January 2022. The University of Pennsylvania’s Crime and Justice Policy Lab reported that GVRS was responsible for reducing homicides and shootings in the Western District by 25% and carjacking by 33%. GVRS has since been expanded to another four police districts,  also with success.

Between 2015 and 2021, Baltimore experienced more than 300 murders and 630 non-fatal shootings each year. GVRS was introduced to change the behavior of groups known to be actively engaged in violent conflict. While those groups in the Western District made up a minute percentage of the population, they accounted for 75% of the shootings and homicides.

GVRS is a collaboration among the Office of the Mayor, the State’s Attorney’s Office, the Baltimore Police Department, other law enforcement agencies, the Youth Advocate Program, ROCA, and people who are described as “community moral voices”.

The goal of GVRS is to identify on a weekly basis those people likely to be involved in gun violence and make them the focus of enforcement. They become the subjects of outreach by GVRS partners. They are told that there is a great concern about their safety, that they should be safe and not spend the rest of their lives in jail. However, they are also told that if there is violence on their part, they will be prosecuted and sent to jail.

To assist this effort, the program provides mentorship and crisis management as well as substance abuse treatment where needed and assistance in finding employment.

Those who continue to shoot and kill stay in the sights of law enforcement and are removed from the community. They are arrested, and they are prosecuted.

GVRS is a nationally recognized approach to community violence, and it is now active in five police districts in Baltimore. And it is working.

Throughout the city, carjackings are down 37% from 2024. Commercial robberies are down 16% for the same period.

The most impressive achievements, however, are the reductions in homicides and non-fatal shootings. Homicides are down 31% from 194 in 2024 to 131 in 2025. Non-fatal shootings are also down year to year, 311 compared to 412.

All of this is good and the numbers are headed in the right direction. As the city, the State Attorney’s Office, the Baltimore Police Department, and their partners press on with GVRS into 2026, we anticipate an even stronger result in 2026.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

James B. Astrachan, Chair

James K. Archibald

Gary E. Bair

Arthur F. Fergenson

Nancy Forster

Susan Francis

Julie C. Janofsky

Ericka N. King

George Liebmann

George Nilson

Steven I. Platt

Angela W. Russell

Debra G. Schubert

Jeff Sovern

H. Mark Stichel

The Daily Record Editorial Advisory Board is composed of members of the legal profession who serve voluntarily and are independent of The Daily Record. Through their ongoing exchange of views, members of the board attempt to develop consensus on issues of importance to the bench, bar and public. When their minds meet, unsigned opinions will result. When they differ, or if a conflict exists, majority views and the names of members who do not participate will appear. Members of the community are invited to contribute letters to the editor and/or columns about opinions expressed by the Editorial Advisory Board.