LAWRENCE CO. – To enhance community safety and support for local youth, Chief Probation Officer Nedra Brock Fleetwood has requested permission from the commissioners to apply for a Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) grant amounting to $65,564. This will be the sixth year Brock-Fleetwood has applied for the grant. The grant must be submitted by January 31.
The initiative aims to redirect public resources away from mass incarceration and toward investment in youth, families, and communities, fostering long-term improvements in public safety.
The initiative involves a collaborative effort among various stakeholders, including Mitchell and Lawrence County Community School superintendents, school principals, treatment providers, the sheriff’s department, Bedford City police, community corrections directors, the Department of Child Services, and public defenders and prosecutors. The partnership underscores a community-wide commitment to addressing juvenile justice issues effectively.
Last year, the JDAI grant significantly impacted local youth, with 56 children benefiting from the funds and support. This initiative aided these individuals and resulted in substantial savings for the county, amounting to $175 per child. Impressively, 90 percent of the participants did not re-offend, highlighting the program’s success in fostering rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.
