Baltimore Police Department Gun Violence Reduction Strategy

This program is funded under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The JAG Program (42 U.S.C. 3751(a)) is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The JAG Program authorization also states that "the Attorney General may reserve not more than 5 percent, to be granted to 1 or more States or units of local government, for 1 or more of the purposes specified in section 3751 of this title, pursuant to his determination that the same is necessary-(1) to combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime" (42 U.S.C. 3756).

The Smart Policing Initiative seeks to build upon the concepts of offender-based and place-based policing and broaden the knowledge of effective policing strategies. The most convincing research demonstrates that place-based or hotspot policing reduces violent crime and neighborhood disorder. This initiative addresses the need for effective policing that requires a tightly focused, collaborative approach that is measurable, based on sound, detailed analysis and includes policies and procedures for accountability. This grant program seeks to build upon data-driven, evidence-based policing by encouraging state and local law enforcement agencies to develop effective, economical, and innovative responses to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime within their jurisdictions.

The city of Baltimore will use Smart Policing funding to enhance its efforts to combat gun violence. The city continues to experience high homicide rates, with a majority of those crimes committed with guns. Through the grant, the Baltimore Police Department will further a multifaceted enforcement approach by focusing on areas with historically high rates of violence; identifying and prosecuting the most violent repeat offenders; and increasing the monitoring of gun offenders through its Gun Offender Registry (GOR). The GOR requires individuals convicted of gun offenses within the city to register a current address, and report to the police department for a specified length of time. Grant funds will be used to hire personnel who will support the GOR unit, as well as officer overtime costs associated with gun offender home checks, suppression efforts, and investigations. Equipment for undercover work and a contract for comprehensive evaluation of this gun violence reduction strategy will also be supported.

CA/NCF