Johns Hopkins University's Center for Gun Violence Solutions released a report on Safe Streets on Thursday showing it to have "yielded important reductions in homicides and nonfatal shootings in these neighborhoods."
In the report's Key Findings, researchers say that "During the first four years of program implementation across the five longer-running sites, Safe Streets was associated with a statistically significant average reduction in homicides of 32%."
"We go out there unselfishly to work in the community where we once wreaked havoc, we was once part of the problem so now we want to be part of the solution," said Greg Marshburn, Program Director for Safe Streets.
He says intervening in crime is their mission and many Safe Streets workers were once part of the reason for crime.
The report also indicated that the program showed a reduction in nonfatal shootings by an average of 23%.
On the report, Mayor Brandon Scott released a statement saying "I am proud of Safe Streets staff members who work tirelessly to mediate conflicts and promote peace in our communities. Together, we are committed to delivering improved public safety outcomes for all Baltimoreans."
The Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) also released a statement on the release of the report.
"Safe Streets is an integral component of our city’s community violence intervention (CVI) ecosystem and has utilized a community-based approach to violence reduction in Baltimore since 2007. The evaluation conducted by Dr. Webster underscores the profound impact that Safe Streets has had on reducing homicides and nonfatal shootings across ten catchment zones throughout the city and cited the program to have reduced homicides by 32 percent and nonfatal shootings by 23 percent on average annually since its inception. Safe Streets staff members work tirelessly and selflessly to mediate conflicts in our communities and encourage peace. Accordingly, these results would not be possible without their commitment to our city and fellow neighbors."
Professor Daniel Webster, who’s one of the main researchers of this study, says the money safe streets has received is incredibly beneficial for the community.
"For every dollar invested in Safe Streets, you get nine to $17 return in terms of social and economic benefits. So it is very cost effective. And I think the questions we should be examining now is, could we do even better," asked Webster.
"They're working in some of the most challenged neighborhoods in our city. Neighborhoods that have been impacted by structural racism and disinvestment, and historically high rates of gun violence," Webster adds.
The work that Safe Streets does is dangerous and they work as a liaison to prevent violence.
"We duck guns, we duck pipes, we duck sticks, like we go through everything but all we have is our word and our credibility. They don’t pay us enough, they probably could never pay us enough to go risk our life everyday, but we don’t understand that we are risking our life because it’s a passion," Marshburn said.
