TUgis Conference 2019

The state of Maryland approved a plan in May 2015 to build a $30 million jail facility to detain teenagers charged with crimes until their trials. The intent of this plan was to remedy the practice of housing young defendants alongside adults. Another more effective alternative would be to use these funds to house young people who might commit crimes in a college dormitory.
A study done by Northeastern University showed a link between high school dropout rates and juvenile crime. If young people are engaged in positive activities such as school, work or mentoring programs, then they will be less likely to conform to negative influences.
A GIS analysis was performed to find three optimal locations in Maryland where a dormitory for young people held for crimes could be built. The optimal locations were based on factors including high dropout rates, access to public transportation and proximity to community colleges.
Recommendations:
Based upon the GIS Spatial Analysis with criteria of: 1) most routes via public transportation and 2) within counties with high rate of high school dropouts, the top locations near which to build dormitories are near: Baltimore City Community College - Liberty Campus; Prince George's Community College; and Wor-Wic Community College in Salisbury in the Eastern Shore.