While Baltimore City has made considerable progress in addressing violent crime, youth violence remains a pressing concern. A recent report by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) highlights a four-fold rise in young individuals falling falling victim to gun violence over the past decade, with a disproportionate impact on youth of color. Three Abell Foundation grantees —National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform; Roca, in partnership with Treyway Multi Treatment Services; and the Tackling Chronic Absenteeism Project—are working to provide research, comprehensive wraparound services, and cognitive behavior therapy skills to decrease the number of youth experiencing violence, allowing them to thrive in school and beyond.
The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) received support from the Abell Foundation to conduct a comprehensive assessment of youth involved in gun violence across the state. The study revealed that nearly two-thirds of youth involved in shootings had previously been charged with a felony crime of violence. Many had clear and immediate risk factors, such as recent physical confrontations with other youth and/or family members, or involvement in violent crew or gang conflicts. Most were unable to attend traditional schools due to learning disabilities and/or school discipline issues. Additionally, there were lengthy delays in court processing, resulting in months or even years passing between when the youth were arrested and when they received any type of direct services.
DJS and NICJR used this research to develop a screening tool and an expedited process for enrolling youth in a new initiative called the Thrive Academy, which provides intensive community-based services to DJS-supervised youth who are at high risk of being involved in gun violence. The Abell Foundation also provided funding for a f lexible youth and family support fund for those enrolled in the Thrive Academy.
Since 2018, Roca has operated a program for young men at risk of future violence and incarceration in Baltimore. Roca serves over 200 young men annually. In the past year, Roca has partnered with Treyway Multi Treatment Services to support its clients through the REMIX Program. Treyway offers services such as group and individual counseling, trauma therapy, medication management, housing assistance, transportation support, job and school referral information, and comprehensive case management. Since the partnership began, 18 young individuals dealing with homelessness and substance use have been served. Funding from the Abell Foundation allowed services to be extended to six more young people, with the capacity to house a total of 20 young people. To date, 38% of participants are maintaining employment, three have returned to high school or trade school, and those who are fathers are maintaining relationships with their children. As one participant said, “The REMIX Program has given me a second chance at life. I never thought I could overcome my past struggles, but with the support and resources provided by Treyway and Roca, I’ve been able to build a better future for myself and my family.”
The University of Baltimore School of Law’s Tackling Chronic Absenteeism Project (TCAP) is dedicated to addressing truancy and school disengagement among at-risk youth through the provision of comprehensive support services. TCAP’s primary objective is to reconnect students and their families with the education system, aiming to diminish truancy rates and disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline. To achieve this, the program implements strategies such as mentoring, tutoring, referrals to social services, legal guidance, and case management. To ensure regular engagement and support, TCAP organizes weekly meetings and restorative classes/circles that span a minimum of 10 weeks in elementary and middle schools and 12-14 weeks in high schools during each fall and spring session. Beyond these regular meetings, the TCAP mentor, social worker, and attorney maintain frequent contact with participants and their families, offering additional support tailored to their unique circumstances.
Throughout the years, TCAP has tracked over 1,000 students for differing amounts of time and has demonstrated its efficacy in reducing juvenile crime. Notably, among these 1,000 students, only f ive were arrested while participating in TCAP.
“I like it when that light comes on in the students’ eyes and it just clicks—they know they can do whatever they set their minds to. There is just no greater feeling.”
– Miriam Hutchins, Retired District Court Judge
Program leaders believe this is, in part, due to the frequency and consistency with which the TCAP team members check in with students.
When asked why she continues to volunteer with the program, Retired District Court Judge Miriam Hutchins responded, “The students…have so much untapped potential and I don’t want to see them waste that. By giving them just a little bit of guidance and motivation from someone outside of the school, I see it helps students to think about their goals and put into action concrete steps to change their lives and achieve their goals.”
Header photo of TCAP Judge with student at Park Heights Academy Graduation in spring 2023.