Non -profit organization works to connect with young people to prevent violence and crime

Columbia, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Boone County Juvenile Justice Center currently houses 19 young people, although the furnishings contain 45 beds.

Tara Eppy, superintendent of the judicial center, said she thinks that there are discussions every few years about whether the detention should be correct, restorative or rehabilitative.

She said she thinks it was a mix of everyone.

“I think it is primarily out of security and security. The detention should be used for the security of the community,” said Eppy. “As soon as a child arrives here, it is really about finding out which gaps are going on and try to bridge these gaps so that there is no higher level of relapse.”

According to Eppy, Boone County has many resources throughout the district that work towards prevention and rehabilitation. The center works with providers who come to the facility and evaluate the young people before they are released into the community.

One of these providers is the fate of hope, a non -profit organization in Columbia that works closely with the youth.

Lonnie Lockhart Bey said he and Julian Jackman, whom he also works in the non -profit organization – are viewed as continuous navigators who work with young people who are connected to the judicial program. He said the organization was working to create resources to children they need to break the cycle of bad decisions.

This work can include everything when talking to children or visiting their houses.

He said that a large part of the youth violence and crime is due to poverty and that children do not know how to process the pain or trauma that they have experienced. They work closely with children to repair and eliminate them.

Lockhart Bey said he had a special connection to help these children because he was once.

“I was the child without resources. I was the child that people had given up,” said Lockhart Bey. “Ultimately, I fitted myself into the story. I became what you told me and I know that if you are not careful, you know the monster that you don't want to see.”

Destiny of Hope offers an active program for active learners for children who were excluded by public schools in Columbia. The program enables you to learn and end lessons even after displacement.

Cornell Harris has been enrolled into the program since January. He says the program contributed to turning his life around.

Harris said he came across school after he had skipped the lessons and did not complete the school work. Months later he said he had now completed two of his classes and had a and b in the two. Harris said he thinks it was a program that should take students into account in similar situations.

“It will really help. I really have the feeling that we could really make the world a better place,” said Harris.

The Destiny of Hope also offers several summer programs and other opportunities for young people. You can find more information on his website.