Thirty-four of Prince George’s County’s most dangerous criminals sat side-by-side in black upholstered chairs at a Suitland health center one recent evening, staring suspiciously at the police commanders, prosecutors and community activists in front of them.
The murderers, robbers and carjackers had been forced to come to the meeting by their parole and probation agents. All are considered likely to strike again.
Officers will be watching closely this summer, police told the group. Those in the room who don’t stay out of trouble will go to prison.
“There will be no more, ‘Eh, let’s give it one more time,’” Prince George’s prosecutor C.T. Wilson warned.
Prince George’s authorities said they are appealing directly to convicts — a crime-fighting tactic catching on in police departments nationwide — to help stem violence in what has been an unusually deadly year.
Since Jan. 1, 56 people have been slain in the county, a dozen more than at the same time last year. The killings have stemmed from drug robberies, nightclub disputes and even mistaken identity. Many of the alleged killers and the victims had prior criminal records.
In hopes of heading off a spike in crime that typically comes in the hot summer months, police and prosecutors met face-to-face with offenders who live in five of Prince George’s most violent neighborhoods. Authorities threatened the convicts with the prospect of jail time, but also offered them job-training and counseling services. They urged them to help keep their own neighborhoods safe.
“The message is, ‘We don’t want you to re-offend,’” said Prince George’s Deputy Chief Kevin Davis, who is leading the effort. “Hopefully that will inspire some people to be on their best behavior over the summer.”
At the Suitland meeting — one of three in the county in recent weeks — most of the criminals were men, dressed in baggy shorts and T-shirts. Some slouched in their chairs. Others leaned forward with their elbows on their knees. One woman read a book.
Most seemed bored as authorities explained police would focus on their neighborhoods and prosecutors would seek tough punishment for offenders. Some, though, nodded along as Wilson, the prosecutor, described how carjackings cause car insurance rates to rise, how robberies deter pizza places from delivering to certain neighborhoods.
The criminals said little. One man asked how long he had to stick around, saying he was “on the clock.” Many darted for the elevator when police said they were free to go.
But some lingered afterward to talk with community activists who had offered job training, mentoring, counseling, even late night recreation center activities.
“I think that it was good,” said 48-year-old Cedric McCray, a convicted robber who was among those who stayed. “If I could go back to school and get my GED or do something like that, that would be good for me. I think we needed a wake up call.”
Law enforcement experts said the tactic, sometimes known as call-ins, works because a small group of people, often on parole and probation, are responsible for many violent crimes. Send the message to those people — authorities want to help you, but will not be lenient if you re-offend — and they will usually listen, said David M. Kennedy, the director of the Center for Crime Prevention and Control and a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.
Loading...
Comments
The Post Most: LocalMost-viewed stories, videos and galleries int he past two hours
Local Features
Loading...
Comments