By Jonathan Weaver Salisbury Post Several juveniles got a first-hand taste of what Project SAFE is all about Thursday as they sat in on the group's third notification session for probationers at the Park Avenue Community Building. The juveniles were there only to observe. They heard community leaders telling the probationers they would help them any way they could. They also heard state and federal law enforcement officials give sometimes harsh warnings of what happens to those who don't heed their advice. With the notification of that third group of 17, the Salisbury/Rowan Project SAFE initiative has notified 53 offenders, said Salisbury Police Lt. David Belk. Thursday's session was the first to which juveniles not involved in the program have been invited. Belk said Friday that it likely will take more time to determine what effect Project SAFE has had on violent crime rates locally. Project SAFE is a proactive approach to curbing crime, Belk said. Involving youth can only help that cause. "With the inclusion of the juveniles in the process, I can see where this prevention method could reduce our rates also," Belk wrote in an e-mail. Chief Juvenile Court Counselor Kecia Barnes said that Project SAFE representatives approached her about three months ago with the idea of bringing in a group of juveniles to watch the process. She and other court counselors liked the idea, so the counselors approached parents of 11 youths who have been involved in the juvenile court system about attending. "We chose juveniles that weren't too young," Barnes said. "... some of the ones that we felt could handle that type of program." Seven juveniles attended the meeting with their parents. Court counselors were on hand to "support the children and answer any questions they may have," Barnes said. The youths have been involved in more serious crimes, she added. Project SAFE gathers local, state and federal law enforcement and community leaders to offer help as well as warn a targeted group of probationers. That group is told, in the words of Salisbury Police Deputy Chief Steve Whitley, that they have achieved the status of "public enemy." Community leaders offer the probationers help with housing, jobs and other things they might need to get back on their feet. This fall, some members of the first group notified in November 2003 will emerge from the program after successfully staying out of trouble for two years, Belk said. On Thursday, however, law enforcement made sure to point out one of that group who didn't listen. The probationers received photocopies of a Post article on the recent sentencing of Marcus McDaniel, who will spend 20 years in federal prison for selling crack cocaine to an informant. The investigation began shortly after Project SAFE officials warned him to stay out of trouble. The man who prosecuted McDaniel, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Lang, spoke to the group Thursday. Lang told the group that the message they were hearing wouldn't only keep them out of trouble. "If you take this message, it may save your life," he said. Lang, well-known for his passionate talks, spoke of how criminals often try to turn themselves around once they are in prison. "Why not start (the turnaround) now while you're free?" he pleaded. District Attorney Bill Kenerly asked the group to remember those who'd be left behind if they were shipped off to federal prison. Kenerly talked of a hearing he'd come from Thursday afternoon during which four men pleaded guilty to their involvement in a robbery and murder in Kannapolis. The mothers and grandmothers of the men "cried and prayed and apologized to the dead man's family," Kenerly said. "You need to think about the women-folk in your life," he said. "There's somebody out there that cares about you." As he spoke, some of the juveniles' mothers looked at their boys and nodded in agreement. Kenerly also posed the quetions: "Who's going to take care of your mama? Who's going to take care of your babies?" Barnes said she watched the group of juveniles closely during the presentation. "I could tell that they were really listening," she said. "All of them seemed intent on what the speaker was saying." A video shown to the group of offenders featured several notified felons and was particularly effective, Barnes said. The video profiled success stories and also featured an interview with a remorseful federal inmate who warned "don't do it." Barnes was most surprised by the parents' reactions to the program, she said. "They thought it was great," she said. "They said how glad they were to have had the opportunity to bring their child." Barnes said counselors will continue talking with the juveniles about the program. "We're thankful to have the opportunity to provide one more tool to parents" to help keep their children on the right track, Barnes said. "We'll continue to search for ways to provide those opportunities." Contact Jonathan Weaver at 704-797-4266 or jweaver @salisburypost.com.
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