Dollars for Special Program Aimed at Reducing Youth Crime

By 250 News

P.G.-Mt. Robson MLA Shirley Bond, Community Policing's Linda Parker, RCMP Superintendent Brenda Butterworth-Carr and Constable Deb Medcke

Prince George, B.C.- Prince George Community Policing was given a cheque for $17,500 today for a new program called TRST.

Based on the use of texting by youth, TRST (TRUST) is aimed at reducing youth crime and gang violence. 

"We want to prevent our young people from being involved in crime, drugs and gang violence.  Education is a critical tool that will help support them to make safe, appropriate choices," said Prince George-Mount Robson
MLA Shirley Bond. "These resources will help build on other recently announced programs like 'Communities that Care'."

One program that might benefit from this funding is the mural painting of the  pedestrian underpass  on Highway 16.  The  million dollar underpass has been the victim of repeated vandalism, but by engaging youth to ceate a mural  its believed  there will be a sense of "ownership" and pride in the  underpass and the vandalism will stop.

This project will provide youth with tools and information they need to make healthy choices through forums that address crime prevention, internet safety, drugs and gang violence, and personal safety.  The TRST program  will hold a series of forums on the issues.

The money for the TRST program comes from the Civil Forfeiture program which has the Province seize and sell items that have been acquired as a result of, or used to further, unlawful activity. Proceeds from the sale of forfeited assets go into a special account that is used, in part, to compensate victims of unlawful activity and help prevent or remedy the effects of crime.

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