Data Deficits and Vanishing Invoices: Inside Baltimore’s SideStep Accountability Hearing

Failures in oversight and accountability took precedence at a Baltimore City Council hearing examining a youth diversion effort designed to steer young people away from the criminal justice system. The discussion reflected broader concerns about how public funds are managed in programs serving vulnerable populations.

According to the AFRO, Councilman Mark Conway led the April 28 hearing focused on the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and its SideStep program. The review followed an Inspector General report that identified potential fraud and operational breakdowns within the initiative.

Lawmakers examined allegations that two community-based organizations submitted fraudulent invoices through the program, prompting a referral to law enforcement for possible prosecution. The report also detailed gaps in financial oversight, record-keeping and program tracking that raised concerns about effectiveness and accountability.

Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming outlined deficiencies in internal controls, including failures in monitoring expenditures and safeguarding sensitive juvenile information. Those findings added urgency to calls for stronger oversight mechanisms across city agencies.

Council members questioned how a program designed to support at-risk youth could operate without consistent data tracking or reliable outcome measures. The lack of documentation for some participants underscored concerns about whether services were delivered as intended.

Conway emphasized the need for structural changes, pointing to repeated oversight issues within the agency and the risks posed when systems fail to track both spending and outcomes. He also signaled that additional legislative steps may be necessary to strengthen accountability.

The SideStep program had been developed as a pre-arrest diversion option, offering eligible juveniles alternatives to formal charges. Its suspension has left city officials reassessing how such initiatives should be structured and monitored moving forward.

Officials from MONSE acknowledged the need for improvements, citing efforts to revise internal processes, strengthen financial controls and enhance data management practices. Plans include closer coordination with state partners in future diversion efforts.

The hearing underscored a broader challenge facing cities attempting to balance innovation in public safety with effective oversight. As investigations continue, the outcome is expected to influence how Baltimore approaches youth diversion programs and the safeguards required to sustain them.