NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - The Division of Criminal Justice is launching a new pilot program that focuses on helping young people impacted by violence in their community to prevent criminal justice involvement in the future.
Through the State's Attorney's Violence Eradication and Disruption (SAVED) program, a violence prevention interventionist and criminal justice inspectors will partner with school resource officers and other community groups to identify children in the community that have been affected by violence.
Once the needs of those children are identified, the SAVED professionals will provide them the resources they need, whether it be therapy, counseling or basic needs of life, officials said.
The program is being piloted in the New Britain Judicial District where John Walker, a retired police officer and senior pastor of the Saint James Missionary Baptist Church, will serve as the program's violence prevention interventionist.
"My goal is to go into the schools, go into [the kids'] homes, find out who needs what and make sure that we get them the resources that they need. We do that, first and foremost, by developing a relationship with them. Kids want to know that someone cares about them. Kids want to know that they are seen as well as heard," Walker said.
New Britain State's Attorney Brian Preleski explained that criminal behaviors in adulthood can oftentimes be traced back to exposure to violence in childhood.
"What we're trying to do is work with our local and state partners to ensure that children exposed to trauma, whether it be domestic violence, sexual violence or psychological abuse, are given the coping skills and support they need to effectively deal with that trauma," Preleski said.
New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart echoed the sentiment that the SAVED program is an effort to help keep children from getting involved in the criminal justice system.
"You can't fix the problem of repeat juvenile offenders if you're not taking it right at the beginning, targeting these students, speaking with them about the problems that they face and talking to them about how to work through it," Stewart said.
The Division of Criminal Justice will be funding the program through June 30. At that point, program data and metrics will be reviewed to see if funding can be secured to continue the program, Preleski said.