St. Mary Parish Sheriff Gary Driskell says that addressing juvenile crime in St. Mary Parish is a priority of his, adding that he is committed to taking proactive measures to steer youth away from criminal activities.
Recognizing the importance of early intervention, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office applied for and was awarded the Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative Grant a few months ago. The grant aims to reduce violent crime in rural areas by implementing strategic programs and interventions.
Lt. 1C Oscar West was selected to lead the organization and implementation of the grant. Under his leadership, resources have been mobilized and a comprehensive program has been developed and is being implemented. The program emphasizes collaboration with various agencies and stakeholders, to ensure a multifaceted approach to juvenile crime prevention.
The initiative focuses on the following key areas:
𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵: Implementing a program in schools to teach students about the consequences of crime and the importance of making positive life choices.
𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: Providing mentorship opportunities and coaching at-risk youth to offer guidance, support, and positive role models.
𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Partnering with local organizations, such as non-profits, religious institutions, and recreational centers, to create positive opportunities for our youth.
𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗘𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Building positive relationships between law enforcement and youth through community policing initiatives and interactive programs that foster mutual respect and understanding.
By implementing the above strategies, the sheriff’s office says it aims to create a safer environment for the youth of the parish by guiding them away from crime and towards productive and fulfilling futures. The sheriff’s office says that tackling juvenile crime is a difficult task. “It WILL take all of us: law enforcement, court system, educational system, the faith-based community, non-profit organizations, parents, grandparents, and the list goes on.”
Sheriff Driskell issued a simple request to everyone, “𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚.”