[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6531311,"mediaKeyId","3558744-b157326d4e409c663d1c92b0d3181913","parentId",3558744,"title","Work group debates ERPOs, co-responder dispatch and diversion expansion in mental-health and gun-safety recommendations","audioSeconds",2158,"startMs",2162000,"endMs",3811,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3558744-b157326d4e409c663d1c92b0d3181913&start=2162&end=3","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3558744-b157326d4e409c663d1c92b0d3181913/thumbnail_2162000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6531311/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Work-group-debates-ERPOs-co-responder-dispatch-and-diversion-expansion-in-mental-health-and-gun-safety-recommendations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531311-083eaff1a09b5c4359e2f094284d886a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770892353&Signature=MRdc8z6VzdGkFFriBoAvmrtHIQrrI2roWi5UnLacXi3YojVcrmUBpr0GGidp9v-iG7DfAj-zAJtfTtyioYAP274TvmV96AqhEovGbpJWNx7P3j-cyVSgh7hgQWUdUDQWHpU17Stpq7tiPLRM7R7JRyAYWqhUE-axWB0NJNldYUvAOko2BpLgy7oP0OCsvAKB8SA7geGjx3bqu-U9Gyyrp3ym3WoBuxTcF4joO~kf7RRELIilfloMpyAjrM4AAM8NwAEuOeW6SivaPFOWk-FEus~i3bGa42MvOnztO4HzuO08LjF2JBZxHtxLmDKQwtPwAmhXAH3KbTlM1bjyYYflMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Prince George","date","2025-05-28T00:00:00Z","article","Members of the Prince George's County Council Gun Violence Study Work Group discussed draft recommendations aimed at reducing gun violence by improving mental-health responses, diversion programs and household gun safety, but no final votes were taken; the group scheduled one more meeting to finalize the recommendations.

Councilwoman Crystal Bridal, co-chair of the work group, opened a discussion of several recommendation areas and asked staff and subject-matter participants to clarify legal and operational limits. Opening topics included whether existing Maryland law and local court practice allow firearms to be seized when a protective or peace order is issued.

Perry Paylor, deputy state's attorney, explained Maryland practice regarding extreme risk protective orders: \"In Maryland, as of October of 2018 ... you have to turn over your weapon once an extreme risk protective order is actually signed by the court. And they can turn those weapons and ammunition over to law enforcement,\" he said. Paylor summarized factors a judge may consider for an ERPO: alarming behavior or statements, unlawful firearm possession, reckless or negligent firearm use, threats of violence, violations of protective orders, substance abuse and relevant health-record information.

Council members discussed whether the standard questions asked on protective-order or peace-order forms inquire about firearms in the home. Paylor suggested reviewing the forms: \"I think the form should ask, and if it doesn't, we can review the paperwork to make sure the question is asked and the issue is raised,\" he said. Members directed staff to check whether the forms already include that question and, if not, to consider recommending its addition.

The group discussed expanding community-based violence interrupter programs and increasing access to trauma-informed mental-health services in schools, with suggestions to prioritize resources to schools and neighborhoods with higher need and to consult the school system on placement criteria.

Several participants discussed co-responder models and how mobile crisis teams are dispatched. Assistant Deputy Chief Waddy said, \"The mobile crisis team is being dispatched by our public safety communications for crisis related calls for service.\" Chief Weisman added that \"Homeland Security, Police Department, Sheriff's Office, and Fire are involved in a 9-1-1 diversion\" initiative and that staff would follow up on pilot status and hours of operation.

Perry Paylor described an existing diversion program for certain gun-possession cases: Back on Track, a problem-solving court program that he said was expanded locally to include some possession cases. Paylor described program elements: participants enter a plea, perform 180 hours of community service, participate in mentoring and life-skills supports, and pursue certificate programs paid for through program funds; on successful completion, participants may receive probation-before-judgment and be eligible for expungement coordinated with the state. Paylor said the program has been funded primarily through asset-forfeiture funds and that personnel capacity limits are the most likely constraint on expansion.

Members also discussed a proposed county program to subsidize secure firearm storage devices, modeled on no-questions-asked distribution or buyback approaches so households — including lawful and unlawful gun owners — could obtain safes or locking devices to reduce access by children and other at-risk household members.

The work group did not vote on these recommendations at the meeting. Chairs said the group will reconvene for a final meeting to vote on the full set of recommendations and that, after the vote, staff will draft a report to share with the county executive, the full council and relevant state legislators.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Prince George - Gun Violence - May 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Members of the Prince George's County Gun Violence Study Work Group discussed draft recommendations on ERPOs, mobile crisis dispatch, diversion court expansion and firearm storage but deferred final votes to their next meeting.","taxTitle","Prince George's County, Maryland","taxId",3378,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531315,"Prince George's County work group hears SENS youth diversion presentation, capacity data",1108,157000,1265000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3558744-b157326d4e409c663d1c92b0d3181913&start=157&end=1265","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3558744-b157326d4e409c663d1c92b0d3181913/thumbnail_157000.jpg","/articles/6531315/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Prince-Georges-County-work-group-hears-SENS-youth-diversion-presentation-capacity-data","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531315-4c377ca9b2f9aeb5dcb8b8bbb183e675/orig.mp4?Expires=1770892353&Signature=Hd9O82oOickJ38Ak4lqGlxBaz4lqweNpb-LSs7OIJx~-Y6Mh8pYrW2Sv19oNJrekBzoGfXGRNMs1403YsCjvjJ8CwlmsqkysKhqs-UDpWyG55QrmPZSdiubDCVlxpQgaqVjD2MjrYbfENgO7Zjx1hIl-S5XfFM8lwD5~nLVCtUe2QOpzabmpWWrFWcwAbOVnkfUkPnq-xV7GZ9RY4T5j5QYTw2JOvF9Edti-1JMZgOYd8qblVs81K~rAbcYg427TSLz~x-yibxapdCarxpbfOtOR5IPkjjAWQXm8QEpdPLCafmVo8H4JVzcbpHtu1R5G9r9nkjZFLZb7bQrOr~F2TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a meeting of the Prince George's County Council Gun Violence Study Work Group, Hannah Atkinson, coordinator of the Children in Need of Support (SENS) program in the Department of Family Services'Children, Youth and Families Division, described the program's services, staffing and referral trends.

Atkinson said SENS is \"a youth diversion, intervention and prevention program\" that operates with a coordinator and three case managers, including one dedicated to districts 5 and 7. She said the program receives referrals from the Department of Juvenile Services, Prince George's County Public Schools, the Department of Social Services and from parents and community members.

The program, Atkinson said, is designed as a 90-day case-management track. \"By measuring success, we do an assessment called a CAFIS,\" she said, adding case managers administer the assessment at 30, 60 and 90 days to track changes in school, home, substance use and mental-health domains.

Atkinson gave monthly referral and participation figures: SENS typically receives about 10 to 15 referrals per month, can make contact with roughly seven of those referrals, and has ongoing group participation of about seven to 10 youths. She said the summer enrichment program in July is a month-long, Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., program and that 10 youth were already verified for the coming summer session.

Atkinson described additional program elements: an eight-week parent-and-youth education course held twice a year (she said SENS runs roughly 16 parent-and-youth groups per year), a spring-break curriculum, and summer programming that uses Botvin's LifeSkills curriculum and a Shark Tank Junior entrepreneurship component. She said the Botvin curriculum has been shown in program materials to reduce some risky behaviors (Atkinson cited estimated reductions provided by the curriculum vendor: drug use by up to 75 percent, alcohol use by up to 60 percent, delinquency and physical aggression by up to 50 percent and tobacco use by up to 81 percent).

On staffing and access, Atkinson said each case manager typically carries a caseload policy cap of 20 to 25 youth but is currently averaging about 10 cases, leaving room to accept more referrals. She said SENS case managers are stationed at the juvenile courthouse in Upper Marlboro Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to accept in-person referrals.

Oricia Madison, manager for the Children's, Youth and Families Division, clarified a frequent question about voluntary participation: \"Under this particular funding from the Department of Juvenile Services is that it's that step right before that youth is, about to get a charge. So the in order for them not to get that charge, they they have to participate, but it's not mandatory,\" Madison said, describing how court- or agency-linked referrals can make participation effectively required to avoid charges in some circumstances.

Atkinson said SENS does not have a therapist on staff and refers families seeking clinical counseling to partner providers; the program also refers intensive cases to the local care team and uses governor's office funding and other resources to help families with food, workforce development and basic needs.

The work group chair said members asked for SENS's preferred community partners and a list of referral resources to improve outreach and help council members connect local organizations to county grants.

The work group had no formal vote related to the presentation; members said they would follow up by email for additional details and expected the program to be referenced in the work group's final recommendations.","The county's Children in Need of Support (SENS) program told a Gun Violence Study Work Group it provides diversion, case management and year-round programming for middle and high school youth, is funded by the Department of Juvenile Services and currently has capacity for more referrals.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6531306,"Work group approves April 16 minutes by unanimous voice consent",61,103000,164000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3558744-b157326d4e409c663d1c92b0d3181913&start=103&end=164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3558744-b157326d4e409c663d1c92b0d3181913/thumbnail_103000.jpg","/articles/6531306/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Work-group-approves-April-16-minutes-by-unanimous-voice-consent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6531306-b51792b0084210a5fa2e1e4a31e8f3d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770892353&Signature=B1NUvUul1keatU4W~BPORlAVSvuJmVk41MCbsK67A6VL3BxtjFHrf2RWL2xbMKOtWkdb-NEDWj6IMkVsZEzyXugs2pFqIOikji9VKC5i89jDeUwENqK-jO2YemkyCrTYrEBL9Uu016rlxVq8HRe1h6B9a7D-TuiLeWbnjem7NJt5rSD6Wo7VxSGszRzciQ012zDwM2e0vhzLJ5CHk~mHeAkV9urqWaRo1RL9uoThQaVIxi7dFuTLubkq739yARIXrlFys3nZ1K1v1TMZxe~Mpl7l5RTAR5HN3PEYziQjdrK5gp7vtdG6JsspNnktEXrAohIPIWivsf47GlZqqmrREQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Prince George's County Council Gun Violence Study Work Group approved the minutes of its April 16 meeting by voice consent at the opening of its session.

Deputy State's Attorney Perry Paylor moved to accept the minutes; Councilwoman Crystal Bridal seconded the motion. The chair asked if there were objections; when none were raised, the chair said the minutes were approved.

No roll-call vote or tally was recorded in the meeting transcript and no amendments to the minutes were proposed during the session.","The Gun Violence Study Work Group approved minutes from its April 16 meeting after a motion by Deputy State's Attorney Perry Paylor and a second by Councilwoman Crystal Bridal; no objections were raised.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Work group debates ERPOs, co-responder dispatch and diversion expansion in mental-health and gun-safety recommendations

Prince George's County work group hears SENS youth diversion presentation, capacity data

Work group approves April 16 minutes by unanimous voice consent