webadmin posted on February 18, 2010 21:12
For about 70 minutes Thursday night (Feb. 18), local law enforcement, prosecutors and community members had the attention of 20 known criminals and gave them a choice: Let us help you change your life around or you will end up in jail.
The notification/call-in is the first major event for the Statesville/Iredell Gang Initiative (SIGI), a program coordinated by the Statesville Police Department and designed to reduce group and gang related violence. It is funded by the N.C. Governor's Crime Commission.
Thursday night's event was held in City Hall and included speakers from county law enforcement representatives, the US Attorney's Office, the District Attorney's Office, the DEA and ATF, as well as Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh and members of the community.
The 20 offenders, all on probation, were brought into the room, where they were talked to and warned and offered choices. Statesville Police Chief Tom Anderson said there are plans to follow up on the 20 attendees. "We hope they get the help they need from the services offered them tonight. We hope we never see them in the judicial system again," said Anderson. "That is our goal."
SIGI is a part of the North Carolina Safe Communities Initiative designed to use prosecution and intervention efforts to stop violent crimes that involve group and gang activity. The program targets violent groups and offers support for members who are willing to change their behavior by committing to non-violence.
Statesville's program was funded in 2009. For more information on SIGI, click here.