Baltimore’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) is expanding into the Baltimore Police Department’s Southern District, Mayor Brandon Scott announced on Wednesday.
“To be clear, this is a continuation and not the start of our work here,” Scott said. “Making our city safer isn’t just about reducing crime, it’s about increasing opportunity, and that’s especially important here in South Baltimore.”
The Southern District includes the areas of Pigtown, Curtis Bay, Cherry Hill, Brooklyn, Carroll Park and Federal Hill. It also includes M&T Bank Stadium, Horseshoe Casino and Fort McHenry.
“The expansion of GVRS into the Southern District marks a milestone on our path to safer neighborhoods,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley, who grew up in the Southern District. “What makes GVRS work is partnerships.”
Worley said police took down a violent drug trafficking group in South Baltimore earlier this year, first identified by GVRS in the Western District.
Baltimore has recorded 80 homicides this year, the fewest ever recorded up to this point, according to Scott. The program, he said, has helped over 250 high-risk Baltimoreans and led to over 400 arrests.
The Group Violence Reduction Strategy is a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), Baltimore Police Department (BPD) and the State’s Attorney’s Office.
MONSE Director Stefanie Mavronis said the strategy identifies high-risk individuals and gives them three options: stop what they’re doing, stop what they’re doing and get help through city services, or continue and face steep consequences from BPD and the state’s attorney’s office.
The program received $2.5 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2026. It’s “roughly” $1.2 million in additional funding. That’s an increase of 108% from last year and more than 16 times the amount in 2024.
“I believe in GVRS and their work,” said lifelong Cherry Hill resident and community leader Kin “Termite” Brown-Lane at Wednesday’s press conference. “This is the support South Baltimore has been waiting for.”
Jaylen, a Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. GVRS participant, also spoke and shared his story. He said a year ago he just turned 18 and was in the hospital recovering from a gunshot wound. A life coach helped him turn his life around.
“I just earned my commercial driver’s license, and I got a job,” he said. “And I had coping skills. I know how to deal with conflict, and I have a better relationship with my family.”
Jaylen said he wants to start his own business to help younger people in his community.
GVRS started in January 2022 in BPD’s Western District. It expanded to the Southwestern District the following year. In January 2023, the strategy was added to the Central District. The fourth addition, the Eastern District, came in 2024
“We will not make the mistake of the past,” Scott said. “We’ve seen this strategy fail in Baltimore because folks try to expand too quickly. We’re going to do this the right way.”
