Opinion: To Stem the Tide of Violence, Look to Medicaid

Maryland had the ninth highest homicide rate in the nation in 2020 and, keeping with national trends, the number of murders spiked in several Maryland areas in 2021, including Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. We know the story in Baltimore: 78 homicides in 2022, as of April 1. In the first 25 days of the year, there was more than one murder a day. There is broad agreement more must be done and organizations like Roca, where we work, are making an impact. For nearly 35 years, Roca has been working with the highest risk young men and women, those most likely to be victims or perpetrators of violence, and changing the trajectory of their lives.