The Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice reviewed some of the innovative programs operated by Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services, including “The Thrive Academy” (TTA) and an intervention strategy known as “Safer Stronger Together” (SST).
Despite various shortcomings, the research team found important indicators that suggest positive benefits of the State initiatives to prevent crime and violence. When researchers analyzed violent and property index crimes (i.e., aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, and larceny), the change in crime occurrences sometimes varied by the amount of funding received. Using 2010 as the base year and tracking crime rates through 2023, researchers found that total index crimes dropped 14 percent in counties receiving funding, but index crimes grew 13 percent in counties that received no funding for the three main initiatives.
To enhance our impact on crime prevention, researchers should improve three things: 1) the questions we ask, 2) the data we use to answer them, and 3) the way we share our answers with communities.
It does not appear to be accurate to attribute recent increases in violent crime to the State law known as “Raise the Age.”
Jeffrey Butts, a John Jay College professor who has spent his career researching juvenile justice, said the problem is too wrapped up in politics and rhetoric. What it really needs is thoughtfulness and nuance.
Violent index crimes (murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) generally declined statewide between 2010 and 2020 before surging with the onset of the social and economic disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The surge was limited to New York City and its suburbs.
