MONSE Chief Defends Program After Fraud Allegations

Stephanie Mavronis responds to inspector general report on SideStep program

Mar. 20, 2026 at 8:33pm

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The head of Baltimore's Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) defended the agency's SideStep program after the city's inspector general reported finding fraudulent invoices and data sharing issues. MONSE chief Stephanie Mavronis said the office is transparent and that the inspector general obtained documentation outside of what MONSE provided.

Why it matters

The SideStep program aimed to prevent future criminal activity by providing services to city youth with low-level interactions with police. The fraud allegations raise concerns about oversight and accountability in the program, which has now been shut down.

The details

The inspector general's report detailed an investigation into MONSE's SideStep program, which paid 15 contractors about $690,000 to provide services to Baltimore youth. The review found that fraudulent invoices were paid to two contractors, with one altering invoices to receive higher payments. The program has since been ended, and the case has been referred to law enforcement.

  • The SideStep program ran from 2022 to 2024.
  • The inspector general's report was released on March 20, 2026.

The players

Stephanie Mavronis

The head of Baltimore's Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE).

Isabel Cumming

Baltimore's city inspector general who investigated the SideStep program.

Brandon Scott

The mayor of Baltimore.

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What they’re saying

“The inspector general did that outside research and was able to get documentation outside of what we provided. That's what we're asking for. This is extremely concerning to me.”

— Stephanie Mavronis, MONSE Chief

“This was always meant to be a pilot to learn lessons about the future of youth diversion.”

— Stephanie Mavronis, MONSE Chief

What’s next

The case has been referred to law enforcement for further investigation.

The takeaway

The fraud allegations in the MONSE SideStep program highlight the importance of strong oversight and accountability measures when implementing new youth diversion initiatives, especially those involving significant public funding.