NO NONSENSE WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR KIDS

Steve Walton Returns to Airdrie at the Behest of the Airdrie,
Crossfield and District Youth Justice Committee

The Airdrie, Crossfield and District Youth Justice Committee is proud
to introduce a 25-year veteran of law enforcement to Bert Church High
School on Thursday, April 5.

Retired detective, Steve Walton, has spent the last 10 years of his
career dealing with the Drug Unit and will be bringing his expertise
to local Airdrie schools to provide an overview and examination of
widely used street drugs and how they relate to today's youth culture.

Walton has supervised an undercover street team and over the years
has seen more than 120 undercover drug operations and 780 marijuana
drug transactions. Walton personally attended over 300 marijuana grow
operations and has been qualified in the criminal justice system as
an expert with respect to street drug related matters. His formal and
informal education regarding streets drugs has provided him with
considerable expertise in the areas of street jargon, consumption
practices and the physiology of street drugs, the effects of use,
street pricing and patterns of abuse.

"I think it's important for people to know what's on the streets,"
said Donna Norndon, secretary and treasurer for the Youth Justice
Committee. "This presentation will let parents know what is out there
and how to better protect their children from it."

Walton is a member of the California Narcotic Officers Association
and a former member of the National Advisory Board for the Police
Marksman Magazine. He is also a member of the advisory board and is
an active instructor for the Addictions Studies faculty at Mount
Royal College in Calgary and was a member of the national training
initiative "Chemical Drugs and Dance Culture". He also acts as a
contributing editor to the American School Health Association and is
a drug awareness instructor for the nation wide training strategy P.A.R.T.Y.

Walton, who has spoken in Airdrie before, will take centre stage at a
public meeting at Bert Church Theatre on April 5 between 7 and 9 p.m.
Admission for the evening will be a donation for the Airdrie Food
Bank, everyone is invited to attend.

He will also be touring Grade 7 classes to schools in Airdrie and
Crossfield during the week.

Did You Know

The Airdrie, Crossfield and District Youth Justice Committee:

* Was formed in 1995, and currently operates with 10 members and
works closely with the Airdrie Probation Officer and two RCMP liaisons.

* Is thoroughly involved with "Alternative Measures" programs with
young offenders in which the youth is given the opportunity to make
amends for their offence without formal sentencing from the court system.

* Is an effective intervention program with lifelong benefits for
youth that would otherwise carry the burden of a criminal record.

* In 2006, had 53 referrals for Alternative Measures: Age 12, 3
males, 1 female; Age 13, 1 male, 4 females; Age 14, 1 male, 4
females; Age 15, 6 males, 1 female; Age 16, 7 males, 1 female; Age
17, 18 males, 6 females. Their offenses included theft under $5,000,
drug possession, assaults and fraud. Of this group, 40 alternative
measure programs were successful, six were unsuccessful and seven
were diverted to other jurisdictions. As a result, $1,571 was
collected in restitution, $1,100 was donated to charity and 235 hours
of community service was served.