Mayor Scott encouraged, not satisfied with Baltimore's violent crime reduction

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is encouraged by the continuous decline in the city's crime rate in 2025.
As of Monday, June 2, there have been 55 homicides this year, compared to 72 during the same timeframe in 2024. That's a 23.6% drop in the city's homicide investigations.
There have also been nearly 40 fewer non-fatal shootings compared to last year.
The mayor credited the efforts of the Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan, which has strategically slowed down Baltimore's crime rate.
"This continued progress shows that our strategy to build a safer, better Baltimore is working," Mayor Scott said. "Thanks to our Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan and the dedicated work of our community violence intervention ecosystem, BPD, and partners across the criminal justice system, homicides and shootings continue to fall."
The mayor's office says auto thefts are down 33%, robberies are down 22%, arson is down 19%, and carjackings are down 11% compared to last year.
What is the Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan?
Baltimore's Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan was started in 2021 to reduce violent crime, including homicides.
The crime prevention plan targets violence as a public health crisis. It's a collaborative effort between city leaders and community organizations and partners that provide services and resources.
Some of the main focuses include juvenile crime, which is often tied to an increase in the city's armed robberies and carjackings.
Model for violence reductions
In April, Mayor Scott called Baltimore a national model for violence reduction.
In 2023, the city had fewer than 300 homicides for the first time in nearly a decade. Since then, the homicide rate has dropped each year.
"But let me be clear, this is not a time for celebration," Mayor Scott said. "One death is one too many. We will continue to double down on evidence-based strategies, as we work to finally cure the disease of violence that has plagued our communities for far too long."
Summer programs for juveniles
The Maryland school year is coming to an end, which means juveniles will be out for the summer.
In April, the mayor unveiled the city's Summer Youth Engagement Strategy, which is focused on reducing crime by offering activities for young people during spring and summer breaks.
The strategy led to a 66% decrease in shooting victims and a 31% decrease in aggravated assault victims in 2024, according to Mayor Scott.
Mayor Scott said Baltimore will have 42 summer camp sites this year through recreation and parks. The city's Rock the Block parties, midnight basketball, and parties at Druid Hill Pool will return.
The mayor's office said hours at nine of the city's recreation centers will be extended until 11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday from June 20 until Aug. 16. Those locations are the Middle Branch, Rita Church, Greenmount Edgewood, Lynnhurst, Lakeland, CC Jackson, Cahill, Robert C. Marshall and Madison recreation center locations.
The city will also have 12,000 seats across 10 district summer school programs, in addition to 29 literacy-focused programs for students from Pre-K through 12th grade.
The city has also partnered with B-360, an organization that leverages dirt bike culture to encourage STEM education, whose downtown location will function as a youth center offering learning and tutoring services.
The B-360 headquarters on East Pratt Street will serve as a Youth Connection Center, where youth can connect with staff and resources as they await pickup by their guardians, the mayor explained.
"We're not just criminalizing our young people for simply being outside and being Black. We're limiting unnecessary youth interactions with law enforcement," Scott said.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

8 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Fact Check: Debunking alleged photo of Trump on Epstein's jet with underage girls

Claim: A photo shared online authentically depicts U.S. President Donald Trump on an airplane with underage girls. Rating: An image purporting to be an authentic photo of U.S. President Donald Trump aboard an airplane accompanied by five young women circulated online extensively in June 2025. The alleged photograph was shared widely across social media platforms like Threads (archived), Facebook (archived) and BlueSky (archived), but was particularly widespread on X (archived, archived, archived). Some users sharing the photo pondered if the airplane featured in the image belonged to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who is now deceased. Many others spreading the photo online alleged the young women present were underage. (Facebook user Danilo Padilla Ramirez) The image shared online purporting to show Donald Trump alongside underage girls, allegedly on Epstein's private jet, is fake. While there are authentic images of Trump alongside Epstein, plenty of false images have spread widely on the internet, including other fake photos of Trump with underage girls. The specific image in question has been shared online since at least 2023. It appeared in posts on meme websites Imgur and 9GAG in April 2023 before spreading to social media. In January 2024, Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo even apologized for sharing fake images of Trump with underage girls, including the one in question. The actor wrote, "Sorry Folks. Apparently these images are AI fakes. The fact Trump was on Epstein's plane and what Epstein was up to is not." Indeed, the photograph was generated with artificial intelligence (AI). The AI-detection tool Hive Moderation reported a 99.8% chance the image was made using AI and was thoroughly debunked when it originally circulated. While the image was debunked during its original circulation, Trump's public feud with Elon Musk, who posted on social media that Trump appeared in Epstein's files in June 2025, brought the image back to prominence and is likely to blame for the proliferation of new claims. Snopes previously debunked fake images of Trump and Epstein with a minor as well as Trump and Epstein together on a private jet, though there have been authentic images of the pair together. Dapcevich, Madison. "Photos of Trump Alongside Diddy, Epstein Are Real." Snopes, 6 Dec. 2024, Esposito, Joey. "Musk Accused Trump of Being in Epstein's Files. Here Are 19 Rumors We've Looked into about the Disgraced Financier." Snopes, 5 June 2025, Fact Check: Trump, Epstein Photos With "Underage" Women NOT Authentic -- They're AI Generated | Lead Stories. 9 May 2023, Liles, Jordan. "Yes, Musk Alleged Trump Appears in the Epstein Files." Snopes, 5 June 2025, "Mark Ruffalo Apologizes after Reposting False Images of Trump on Epstein's Plane." NBC News, Accessed 12 June 2025. Wrona, Aleksandra. "Pic Supposedly Showing Trump, Epstein and a Minor Girl Is Fake." Snopes, 24 Aug. 2024,

Yahoo

10 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Giants reliever Sean Hjelle accused of abuse by wife, MLB investigating

San Francisco Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle, foreground, reacts after a home run by Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela, bottom, during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) San Francisco Giants reliever Sean Hjelle has been accused of abuse by his wife, and MLB is now investigating the allegations, according to a statement the Giants put out Saturday. According to The Mercury News, Hjelle said Saturday that he doesn't have an official comment at the moment but that he'll eventually make a statement after speaking with his agent and lawyer. Advertisement Hjelle's wife, Caroline Hjelle, posted a TikTok on Friday of her with the couple's two children. The video's caption read, "When my MLB husband abandons us on Mother's Day a week after this [video was taken] once I finally found about his affairs and stopped putting up with his abuse, so I've been raising two boys alone." The Giants said in their statement Saturday that they are 'aware of these serious allegations' and have been in contact with MLB, which is looking into the situation. 'Obviously we're aware of it,' Giants manager Bob Melvin said before the Giants' 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox Saturday, via The Associated Press. 'He told me about it last night. We talked to MLB. At this point, it's in their jurisdiction right now so I really can't comment on it further." Advertisement Melvin also said before the game Saturday that Hjelle would be available to pitch. He didn't make an appearance, however. Hjelle, a 28-year-old righty, made his debut with the Giants in 2022. The organization drafted him in the second round in 2018. This season, Hjelle is 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA in six outings, the most recent of which took place Friday night in a 7-5 loss to the Red Sox. Hjelle was responsible for the defeat after allowing a tie-breaking home run to center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela in the sixth inning.

Yahoo

19 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Anne Burrell's Death Being Investigated as Possible Drug Overdose: Report

Anne Burrell's sudden death is reportedly being investigated as a possible drug overdose, according to The New York Times Authorities say approximately 100 pills were found near her body, according to an internal document viewed by the outlet The Food Network star died in her home on June 17 at the age of 55Authorities are investigating the cause of Anne Burrell's death as a possible drug overdose, according to The New York Times. The Food Network star, 55, was 'discovered in the shower unconscious and unresponsive surrounded by approximately (100) assorted pills,' The New York Times reported Friday, June 20, citing an internal New York Police Department document viewed by the outlet. PEOPLE reached out to the NYPD for comment, but did not immediately receive a response. Burrell was found dead in her Brooklyn, N.Y., home on Tuesday, June 17. A spokesperson for the NYPD later told PEOPLE the Worst Cooks in America host was found 'unconscious and unresponsive' at the scene. EMS "responded and pronounced her deceased on scene," police said. ​​According to a 911 call report provided to PEOPLE by the New York City Fire Department, a person called in at 7:50 a.m. local time, concerned that she had suffered cardiac arrest. On Friday, the Times reported that a spokesperson for the Office of Chief Medical Examiner said her autopsy had been completed, but that any findings on the cause and manner of Burrell's death were still pending. The New York Times bestselling author spent her final weeks with friends and family, as well as helping others. Less than two weeks before her death, Burrell visited a Florida nursing home called CareRite Centers on June 4 and June 5 to cook for residents and train in-house chefs as part of a healthcare dining initiative. The initiative was to "elevate the standard of dining in healthcare" with meals that the celebrity chef deemed 'good for the soul,' according to a press release. Burrell's visits with residents, patients, families and staff at locations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton 'were nothing short of spectacular," the release said. She also took up improv as a hobby before her death. Just one night before she died, the celebrity chef and television star performed an improv show at The Second City New York in Brooklyn. The show was the finale of her course of improv classes, per her Instagram. 'Everyone said she was so great last night and so happy,' a source told PEOPLE. The source added that everyone was 'shocked and confused' because she seemed fine when everyone left the show. About a week before, Burrell shared pictures of herself having dinner with a fellow Food Network star in New York. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'A delicious and delightful evening last night @sohohouse for @cheffalkner 's 'One Night Only' dinner,' she captioned a series of photos on June 11 of herself and Chef Elizabeth Falkner, and the meal she prepared. 'SUUUUUUPER yummy with a great group of people. Thank you Chef for the invite and deliciousness!! #theclaxtons #ilovewhatido #luckygirl.' She is survived by her husband Stuart Claxton, and his son, Javier, as well as her mother, Marlene, and sister, Jane, her children Isabella, Amelia and Nicolas, and her brother Ben. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. Read the original article on People