PROGRAM TO AID CITY'S WORST OFFENDERS

Police To Offer Criminals Options Of Participation Or Prosecution

The Gastonia Police Department plans to start a program in January
targeting the city's worst offenders and offering services to help
them turn their lives around.

The department received a $50,000 "Hands Helping Heroes" grant last
week from Time Warner Cable. The grant will be used to market the
program and pay for overtime for police investigators. Time Warner
Cable has also volunteered to help write and create public service
announcements, a service valued at $30,000.

Some cities have targeted serious drug offenders, for example, but
Gastonia police plan to target offenders who are involved with guns,
gangs and drugs. "We want to get the most bang for our buck," said
research administrator Amanda Neese.

The police department will identify these offenders then bring them in
for interventions with family or church members, police and social
agencies. The offender will then be given the option of participating
in the program or facing prosecution and a possible prison sentence.
If the person agrees to participate, he or she will be connected with
services like housing and GED programs.

If the person commits a violent crime again, he or she will be sent to
jail.

Two other government agencies also received "Hands Helping Heroes"
grants:

. $50,000 to the Charlotte Fire Department to help develop a one-stop
"village" where children and other residents can be taught fire, gun,
water and pedestrian safety. City leaders must develop and sign off on
the project, said David Lowery, chief fire investigator. No timetable
on opening, but the project could cost about $2.5 million to $3
million to start.

. $50,000 to Kannapolis City Schools to open a ninth-grade academy.
Starting this fall, ninth-graders at A.L. Brown High will be put in an
academy where they'll take most of their classes on one floor of the
school and have their own staff. Leaders say they hope it will improve
student performance and decrease suspension and dropout rates. Staff
writer April Bethea contributed.