'Summer Jumpstart' Warrant Effort To Be Extended

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Putting violent offenders behind bars. That's the focus of a summer program that aims to apprehend criminals with outstanding warrants.

Jessica Kartalija explains the program has been a huge success.

It's a city-wide effort to put criminals where they belong.

"The longer these offenders remain on the street, the greater the opportunity they have to re-offend," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Eight agencies from the city and state are targeting violent offenders with the Summer Jumpstart warrant initiative.

"We are focused on the most violent offenders," Mayor Rawlings-Blake said. "These are ones that have certainly been on the list that needed to be apprehended, but we made a decision to focus our resources collectively on getting it done."

In June, the city cleared more than 1000 warrants, and arrested 636 people. The squad served warrants for probation violations, sex and gun crimes.

The Summer Jumpstart program has proven to be so effective, the city has extended it for another two weeks, hoping to make an additional 100 arrests.

 "Darryl Ragland was arrested by a warrant squad on June 28 for an armed robbery that occurred on June 6 this year," said Lt. Jesse Oden, Baltimore City Police. 

Police will continue to focus on robbery, gun offenders and juvenile and domestic violence warrants.

The program was funded through a $150,000 grant. An additional $20,000 will fund the extension.

Participating agencies include city and state police, the Department of Parole and Probation and the Department of Juvenile Services.