KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A new crime prevention program in Raytown will focus on helping young people who may become exposed to violent crime.
The program, called “Raytown United,” officially launched Thursday afternoon at a news conference with law enforcement and community leaders, including Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker and Raytown Police Chief Robert Kuehl.
“We need not forget that cities do reduce violence,” Peters Baker said in a news release before the event. “Yes, it can be done. We can do it here, in Raytown.”
Kuehl said that Raytown United was formed after analysts looked at violent crime in Raytown and found clusters of violence, mainly involving young offenders, and a low solve rate for business robberies.
“We have all agreed on a fundamental decision in the focus of Raytown United,” Kuehl said in the release. “We will concentrate foremost on the offer of help."
The program will work with individuals, particularly young people, who have been identified as “close to being involved in violent crime,” according to the release. The goal will be to offer those people help before any crimes are committed.
The program also will partner with the Raytown Chamber of Commerce and business owners to solve more robberies involving businesses.
The Jackson County COMBAT Commission and Jackson County Legislature recently approved funding for the program, though the costs associated with it were not immediately clear.
