"Arresting someone who does not have the money
to pay their fines does not solve the major problems"
As the summer heat continues to beat down, the police in Jackson, Tennessee, are doing what they can to provide assistance to people who are most susceptible to the elements, as a new division works to build lasting partnerships.
The Homeless Outreach Team, or HOT division, pairs police officers with crisis intervention training with members of the community and organizations who have a heart for the homeless.
"Usually, we deal with criminal matters and complaints, but arresting someone who does not have the money to make bail or pay their fines does not solve the major problems," said Capt. Thom Corley. "By offering outreach to these men and women now, we are taking preventative actions against things they might be inclined to do later. Not to mention these people are our citizens, too."
Corley said the inspiration for the outreach team stemmed from a conference he attended where members of the Colorado Springs Police Department talked about how their outreach efforts helped to reduce the homeless population from 700 to 75.
Read the Jackson Sun report here.
posted by Jacqueline Dowd @ 7:33 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home