Youth and Community Resources
Commanding Officer
Captain Richard Howard
Office: 410-887-5864
Assistant Commander
Lieutenant Ralph Donahoe
Office: 410-887-5864
The Baltimore County Police Department is committed to establishing working relationships with citizen groups and organizations that work toward community goals. The Youth and Community Resources Section is made up of several initiatives including:Community Resources Team, Citizens' Police Academy, Joins Program, Counseling Team, Youth Initiatives Team, Youth Leadership Academy, Elder / Vulnerable Adult Abuse Program, and Children In Need of Supervision (CINS) Program.
Citizens’ Police Academy
The Citizens’ Police Academy’s primary objective is to afford an opportunity for community, business and religious leaders to become informed and educated about the many aspects of police work. The Academy is designed to give the attendees exposure as to why police respond to various situations in a particular way and how they ultimately handle those situations. For more information call the Youth and Community Resources Section at 410-887-5901 or view our Citizens’ Police Academy web page.
Community Resources Team
The Community Resources Team works with the following programs: Crime Prevention, Police and Private Security, Police Community Relations Councils, Citizens on Patrol, Mediation Program, Baltimore County Grants and Multicultural Relations (en Español).
Juvenile Offenders in Need of Supervision (JOINS) Program
The mission of JOINS is to prevent juvenile delinquency by diverting threshold offenders from the juvenile justice system. To find out more about this innovative program visit the JOINS page.
Counseling Team
The Counseling Team is the outreach and prevention branch of the Community Resources Section of the Baltimore County Police Department. We are a staff of skilled counselors who work with young people and their families with the goal of preventing crime and fostering positive interpersonal relationships and life skills. Interviews are conducted at Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) Centers, precincts, schools, counseling offices, resource centers, and other community agencies. The Baltimore County Police Department has the largest Team of non-sworn counselors devoted to crime prevention in the country.
Youth Initiatives Team (YIT)
The YIT researches "best practice" programs that may be adopted for use within the department for the prevention of juvenile crime and delinquency. The YIT is charged with informing the Youth and Community Resources Section Commander regarding promising practices in the field of juvenile crime prevention. Through the YIT, current research and successful juvenile crime prevention efforts are continuously surveyed and examined for possible implementation by the Department. For further information contact Dr. Mark Metzger at 410-887-3273.
Youth Leadership Academy
The Youth Leadership Academy’s primary objective is to afford a select few community youths ages 14–18 to become informed and educated about the many aspects of police work. The academy is designed to give the attendees exposure as to why police respond to various situations in a particular way and how they ultimately handle that situation. For more information call the Youth Initiative Team at 410-887-2587 or view our Youth Leadership Academy web page.
Elder / Vulnerable Adult Abuse Program
The Baltimore County Police Department is committed to protecting and supporting its elder and vulnerable adult citizens through the investigation of allegations of abuse. For more information visit our Elder / Vulnerable Adult web page.
Children In Need of Supervision
Get more information about this program to intervene with youth and families who are at risk of being referred in juvenile court. Find out more.
Portable Basketball Goals
Get to know the law pertaining to "Portable Basketball Goals".
Revised December 27, 2011
