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The St. Petersburg Police Department announced its new program to help prevent young people in the area from committing crimes.
The Youth Care Program will start this week with Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, the city’s community impact and safety liaison, spearheading it. She will interview children involved in crimes and family members to make recommendations about how they should proceed. Wheeler-Bowman will make recommendations to services already in place based on the child's needs.
Chief Anthony Holloway said at a news conference Monday morning that the goal is to prevent these crimes before they happen and help support parents and grandparents who might feel overwhelmed with trying to address the crimes their kids are committing.
"Once the child does something, within 72 hours, we're going to bring resources to that family," he said.
This is not a diversion program, and the kids will still have to go through the court system.
MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/st-petersburg-crime-prevention-youth-kids-teens/67-f322cd0a-b81a-42cd-acc6-811c01f48f7d