FFY23 Maryland's Byrne JAG Project

Maryland coordinates with federal, state, and local partners to effectively and efficiently reduce and prevent crime and enhance public safety for all residents and visitors. Some of these efforts include establishing initiatives that combat criminal gang enterprises and remove repeat violent offenders from the streets, allocating funds to support additional prosecutors and staff for the United State’s Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, and supporting victim service providers. Despite remaining committed to preventing and reducing crime and gun violence, Maryland continues to experience both. According to the Maryland Department of State Police, 22.55% (n = 26,141) of all crime incidents reported in 2021 consisted of violent crime; nearly one half were committed with a firearm. In addition, some of Maryland’s shootings and murders are classified as mass shooting/casualty events. Between January 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, Maryland experienced 33 mass shootings that resulted in 43 deaths and 151 injured individuals. 

Although Maryland has made tremendous progress to reduce violent crime, improve access to services, and remediate the justice system, more work is needed to address such violence. This year, the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services (Office) seeks federal funding from the FY 2023 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program - State Solicitation, in the amount of $4,028,663, to support the development and implementation of programs and initiatives that reduce crime and violence, advance justice system reforms, support community-based violence intervention initiatives, and positively impact the safety of Maryland residents. Furthermore, the Office will facilitate statewide stakeholders who establish alternative response programs for mental health and non-emergency 911 calls; support law enforcement agencies and their communities in the identification, disruption and prevention of violent crime and mass shootings; address systemic causes of violence through prevention and diversion of youth from justice system involvement; enhance reentry projects to improve outcomes for individuals incarcerated who are returning to the community, and support discovery compliance units within prosecutors’ offices.

Given its role as the State Administering Agency, the Office serves as the primary coordinating body for state and local public safety issue identification, multidisciplinary collaboration efforts, and is responsible for comprehensive criminal justice planning and policy development. Through JAG, the Office will promote best- and evidence-based/informed practices, address gaps in services, reduce violent crime and gun violence, improve reentry, influence justice system reform, and enhance public safety.