Coming Soon: Solutions for Our Communites

Community Solutions and Crime Prevention
In years past, a sheriff could ignore a person after they were arrested and processed through the jail.  This “arrest and forget” mentality no longer serves Pickens County as a way to solve our problems.   If a sheriff is going to address the problems of Pickens County, this status quo must end. There is no better person than the Sheriff of Pickens County to unite and create the resources needed to help people change their lives and break the cycle of crime.  Simply, this means fewer criminals in our neighborhoods.  Doesn’t that make it a concern for the Sheriff?

The US Department of Justice estimates that almost two-thirds of those released from jail return there within three years.  It is insane to rely on the status quo “arrest and forget” and ignore our community’s needs.  A proactive sheriff sees that community intervention and concern can keep people out of jail and not committing crimes in our community.  Below is Rick Clark’s plan to improve our community through innovative programs and solutions.

Prison Ministries and Community Guidance for the Future
Currently there are great volunteers and pastors who go to the law enforcement center and counsel prisoners on a weekly basis.  This is a good program but is it the best we can do?  The answer is no.  After a person gets out of jail, the guidance and support usually stops.  This is the weakness of the program.  The guidance and support must continue into the community with the person who need help. 

One of the most successful programs that can be adopted in Pickens County is the Interchange Freedom Initiative Prison Fellowship.  This program can’t stop at the jail door; it must go into the community to provide the support needed for released prisoners to rebuild their lives for the future.  This program will be designed for those people identified as non-violent offenders and have a greater chance of returning to society in a positive way.  Sheriff Clark will do more than “arrest and forget” to make Pickens County a safer place.

Sheriff’s Coalition
Some will ask, “Why should a Sheriff get involved in getting people off drugs and alcohol?”  There is a simple answer; it is crime prevention plain and simple.  The Sheriff’s Coalition proposed by Sheriff Clark will provide avenues for people to break their addictions.  This coalition will unite religious organizations, civic organizations, and professional addiction specialist to combat the plague that drugs and alcohol is on Pickens County.  

If we are to solve our community problems, we have to be innovative.  What was accepted in the 1970s is not solving the problems of 2008.  The Sheriff must have the courage and motivation to fight for the citizens and future of Pickens County.

More to come......