First came metal detectors and clear backpacks. Now, adult volunteers will monitor intersections as students travel from school to deter youth violence in Maryland’s second-largest school system.
Organizers say posting watchful, caring adults along school routes should deter traffic accidents and discourage fighting, bullying and other misbehavior at a time when youth violence is on the rise.
“We want our students to go home the same way they came to school,” said Branndon Jackson, a school board member representing District 6 who helped arrange the initiative, which is modeled after a regional program.
Prince George’s County, a suburb of D.C., is one of many jurisdictions grappling with increasing youth violence. For three years, more adolescents than adults have been arrested on carjacking charges in the county. Last year, 92 juveniles were arrested — sometimes on school grounds — on suspicion of possessing a gun, according to county police department data.
While the number of juveniles arrested in homicides went down last year, some recent incidents involving teens have been deadly. In January, a Largo High School student was charged with murder in a shooting. Earlier that month, a 14-year-old boy was shot and critically injured during a robbery attempt near Northwestern High School in Hyattsville.
Jackson said the incidents compelled some county leaders to start brainstorming. They thought that bringing in trusted adults from the community could help fill a gap and prevent harm. They reviewed traffic patterns, recent events and other factors to determine which schools should be a part of the pilot.
The group, lead by Jackson, District Heights Commissioner Anthony Tilghman and three county council members — Jolene Ivey (D-District 5), Wala Blegay (D-District 6) and Krystal Oriadha (D-District 7) — picked six schools for the pilot: Suitland High School, Andrew Jackson Academy in Forestville, Central High School in Capitol Heights, Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale, Bladensburg High School and Largo High School.
D.C. officials launched a similar program in 2017 in response to student concerns about safety. Community organizations receive grants through the program, called Safe Passage Safe Blocks, and then place adults from the neighborhood along specific routes. D.C. officials promote the program as one of its best anti-violence initiatives and alternatives to policing, but it has drawn skepticism from parents in recent years over its effectiveness. Last year, a Safe Passage worker was fatally shot near Coolidge High School in Northwest Washington.
Adult volunteers in the Prince George’s County pilot program will begin their shifts this week. The goal is to have at least two volunteers near a designated intersection while students travel from school between 2 and 4 p.m. Volunteers are not paid, but they are provided with T-shirts, a vest and snacks. They are asked to talk with students but cannot touch any student, Jackson said. If an incident becomes unsafe, they are instructed to call the police.
Over the course of the pilot, organizers plan to aggregate data from the police department and school system that they hope shows the program makes a difference, Jackson said.
“The goal is to make a convincing case that this project should be fully funded — by the county or the state — to help our students get home safe,” he said.
About 125 volunteers have signed up. Jackson said the program needs about 175 more.
During a three-hour training Saturday at Largo High School, Derreck Cobbs — a volunteer from Bowie — said he was recruited by Jackson to join. Cobbs, 41, said he doesn’t have any children in the school system but does have a responsibility to serve his community. He emphasized that his job is “not to be police enforcement” but said the program could act as “a great deterrent.”
“The more eyes you have, the less likely someone is to do something that may not be good-natured,” he said.
Jasmine Hilton contributed to this report.
