State's attorney announces Prince George's collaborative to end family violence, urges residents to 'say help'

Shaka Khan Reid, director of public affairs for the Prince George's County state's attorney, described an initiative the office launched in October 2024 to address domestic and family violence that Reid said includes non‑intimate familial homicide and severe family violence.

At the Board of Health hearing on May 12, 2025, Reid said the collaborative — branded in the hearing as the "Prince George's Collaborative to End Family Violence" and summarized with the hashtag "#sayhelp" — brings together the state's attorney's office, the sheriff's department, the Prince George's Family Justice Center, behavioral health providers including Metal Works Behavioral Health, and House of Ruth Maryland, among others. Reid urged residents to use the collaborative's online resources and to speak up about family violence.

"When you speak up, you can save a life," Reid said during her remarks, and she added a direct appeal: "Silence is deadly." The presentation cited cases to underscore the collaborative's focus on family‑based violence and said the program aims to identify problems inside homes before violence escalates to homicide.

Reid provided a web address for resources and outreach and encouraged residents and partner agencies to spread awareness. She also thanked municipal and nonprofit partners working with the office on prevention and victim support.

The collaborative was described as a cross‑agency effort that includes law enforcement, victim services and behavioral health partners to combine investigation, prevention and service linkage. The state's attorney's office asked residents to report concerns and to consult the collaborative's site for resources and contact information.

No formal policy action or new statute was proposed at the hearing; Reid framed the work as an interagency prevention and outreach program with ongoing partner engagement.