Posted on 04/29/25
| News Source: WBAL
Baltimore, MD - April 29, 2025 - On Tuesday, Baltimore City Police Commissioner Richard Worley discussed the recent rise in juvenile crime and ongoing efforts to address youth-related offenses in the city.
Over the past weekend, police arrested 16 juveniles, ranging in age from 13 to 17, on charges including robbery, auto theft, burglary, handgun violations and assault.
Alarmingly, 11 of these juveniles had prior arrest records, with two having been arrested more than nine times.
Officials noted that crimes over the weekend included incidents involving stolen vehicles, robberies, and handgun offenses.
“It’s incredibly frustrating to see young people involved in violent crimes across our city,” Worley stated. “We need accountability, early intervention, and real support for our youth to break this cycle and build a safer future for Baltimore.”
In an interview with WBAL NewsRadio’s T.J. Smith, Worley explained that a small core group of young offenders is driving much of the violence.
The police department is already well-acquainted with many of these individuals. “We are very, very familiar with this group, this core group of young people who go out here and continue to commit these crimes—and then continue to get back out,” Worley said.
The commissioner highlighted the frustration of knowing these repeat offenders but seeing them largely undeterred.
He attributed the problem to systemic issues, emphasizing that many of these young people lack stable family support or mentorship.
“These kids need services, but many lack family support or discipline,” Worley explained, adding, “They’re starting out in a negative balance, per se. The system shouldn’t have to be the sole support for these young people to grow up. Unfortunately, for some of them, it has to be because there’s no one else in their lives to provide discipline.”
Worley outlined efforts by the police department to collaborate with the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) and other entities for interventions like electronic monitoring and support programs. However, he expressed disappointment that these initiatives have yet to yield the desired results.
“We’ve tried… to get these young people help. It’s just not going as well as it should,” he admitted.
While Worley noted some gradual improvement in juvenile crime trends, he acknowledged there is a long way to go.
He also added, that, although certain crime hotspots have shifted away from downtown, other areas, including the central district, are now bearing a larger share of crime-related issues.
Looking ahead, Worley expressed optimism about new legislation designed to address juvenile crime more effectively.
“We want to give the new law a chance to kick in, and hopefully, it’ll start to work a little better,” he said. He reassured citizens that the police department remains committed to tackling juvenile crime, adding, “We know who these young people are. We’re just going to keep doing our jobs.”