Baltimore Mayor Scott's Summer Youth Plan Under Fire As Teen Crime Arrests Raise Doubts

By FOX45
Posted on 04/30/25 | News Source: FOX45

Baltimore, MD - April 30, 2025 - Mayor Brandon Scott's summer engagement initiative, aimed at curbing juvenile crime, is facing scrutiny as concerns about youth violence grow. The plan is part of a broader effort to reduce crime in the city, but some are questioning its effectiveness.

Retired Sgt. Betsy Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association, expressed support Tuesday for the idea of youth engagement. "Is summer youth engagement a great idea, well, of course it is," she said. "I don't think anyone would dispute the fact that a busy kid is a less likely to get in trouble kid." However, Smith raised questions about the specifics of the engagement. "But we've got to look at, and I'm very curious about, what type of engagement?" she said.

The initiative comes as police reported the arrest of 16 teenagers over the weekend, with charges ranging from stolen cars to handgun violations and a break-in at a local school. Nearly a dozen of the suspects have prior arrest records, raising doubts about the initiative's potential impact.

Smith emphasized the importance of consequences in deterring crime. "While programs like youth engagement are good, I believe that the city and the state needs to look a lot harder at consequences," she said. "Teenagers who are afraid of consequences, like going to jail, may not commit crimes."

Mayor Scott, alongside city leaders and partners, announced the summer engagement plan last week. The plan includes MONSE's youth engagement workers on the streets for 25 weeks, a Youth Connections Center at the Inner Harbor for curfew violators, and extended recreation center hours. "This year we're building on our approach from the past two summers combining ground level engagement with programming that helps young people enjoy their summer," Scott said.

Despite the concerns, there is optimism among some observers. "The ultimate person who is going to decide whether crime goes down or not are the criminals themselves," Smith said.

The mayor's plan also includes YouthWorks, with more than 8,000 youth already signed up for employment this summer.