Atkins will create Youth Mentorship Program as Sheriff

According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 82% of individuals report that positive mentorship contributed tremendously to their success in life. Youths who are generally subsectical to criminal activity are usually fostered in an environment where one or more parents are absent. Absence can be mental, physical, emotional, and social. Any form of absence could potentially produce the same effect on our children.

Children are not emotionally, mentally, nor socially developed as adults, and depending on the environment, they could face circumstances that they do not have the ability to resolve. The challenging circumstances could lead to seeking misleading advice.

Creating a youth mentorship program in the community will dramatically reduce the risk of youth incarceration. Several youth mentorship programs have reported increased self-esteem, increased career awareness, and improved academic performance.

As Sheriff of Sumter County, creating and maintaining a positive youth mentorship program will be a top priority. The overall goal of the youth mentorship program is to reduce the incarceration and recidivism rate of our youth.

Damian L. Atkins

Candidate for Sheriff of Sumter County