BRANDYWINE, Md. — Residents in Brandywine narrowed in on 'youth crime' as one of their top priorities during a public safety listening session hosted by Prince George's County council members Calvin Hawkins and Wanika Fisher.
The event at the Southern Area Aquatics and Recreation Complex was the first of three sessions to hear concerns from Prince George's County neighbors ahead of a tight budget season for the county council.
Carjackings, gun violence, school safety, and truancy were issues that garnered the attention of the crowd.
"Our community is living with a level of fear that takes me to the early 90s and we must deal with it head-on," At-Large Council Member Hawkins said.
One resident who asked to only be identified by her first name, Von, told WUSA9 that among her priorities for the budget are, "Strengthening the police force and 911 response time."
Neighbors shared what they believe has prompted the rise in youth crime in Prince George's County. Some pointed at a lack of parent accountability, others at the lack of resources available for kids.
Police data shows last year in the county 147 kids or teens were arrested for carjacking and nearly 100 for carrying a gun.
Hawkins and Fisher say some programs are already in the works in an effort to curb youth crime.
Last month, Hawkins announced that he was leading the effort to bring a new anti-violence pilot program to Prince George's County. The initiative focuses on mentorship and life skills training however Hawkins says what sets Young Mindz Inc. apart is that it has young people mentoring their peers.
"We got to get out there where the rubber meets the road, in those communities where there is high crime, the truancy is high," Hawkins said.
Prince George's State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy has sounded the alarm on the number of truant students who are committing dangerous crimes in the county. "That is something that we see consistently when we deal with cases of young people who have committed very serious offenses," Braveboy said ahead of a school system truancy event.
Prince George's County's top prosecutor warned parents of truant students that they can be held criminally responsible if their kids are missing school for no good reason.
"It could result in jail time. That is not the goal. That is not what I think is the best option, but it's on the table," Braveboy said.
Councilmember Fisher says the involvement of truant students in criminal activity is a region-wide issue, which is why DC, Maryland, and Virginia are currently working on improving how they share the profiles of kids in the juvenile justice system.
"Let's say the juvenile has 10 in D.C. and they have their first one in Prince George's. It doesn't mean I can see the 10 incidents in D.C. in their profile to know the type of child that I am dealing with and the seriousness of the infraction," Fisher said.
Just one example of how kids are committing crimes in multiple jurisdictions is the case of Kaeden Holland, or Baby K. The 16-year-old is accused of climbing aboard a Prince George's County school bus and pulling a trigger on a student's head, the gun jammed. However, Holland is also charged with murdering a woman in D.C.
Hawkins and Fisher will be hosting two more listening sessions:
Mar. 13, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
- Hyattsville Branch Library
- 6530 Adelphi Rd.
Mar. 14, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
- Wayne K. Curry Administration Building
- 1301 McCormick Dr. Suite 2027