U.S. Congressman Garret Graves secured $375,000 for a local non-profit program focused on youth crime prevention and diversion. The funding passed in a U.S. House funding bill which is now before the U.S. Senate.
Data shows that young offenders, particularly in the Capital Region, are significant contributors to the alarming crime rate, and this funding will help to curtail this trend. TRUCE would use the federal funding to provide crime interventions and education initiatives to deter young participants from choosing a life of crime. Successful models have been deployed in other regions of the country.
Launched in 2018, TRUCE is a community-based non-profit that identifies and supports at-risk South Louisiana youth engaged in crime, gang activity, or other violent behavior to seek a more productive, law-abiding path. TRUCE's model uses a focused deterrence approach, including mentoring, recreation, education, employment assistance, and after-school programs.
"The current crime situation in Louisiana is just ridiculous. While the first solution is putting and keeping the criminals in jail, we must work a parallel path to prevent new recruits from joining the criminal path. There is an uptick in murders and other violent crimes, and a years-long backlog in DNA evidence. We are watching our youth become another violent crime statistic – doing nothing is not an option. We've secured tens of millions of dollars for our law enforcement community, but must explore every tool we can to restore safety in our communities and set vulnerable kids on the path to success. TRUCE is helping push our youth in the right direction and this is a great opportunity for us to act. Thanks to DA Moore, Aishala Burgess and the TRUCE team, and all involved for pushing this initiative," Graves said.
"On behalf of TRUCE and the District Attorney's Office, we are thankful to Congressman Graves for his support in reducing recidivism in the Greater Baton Rouge Area," Moore said. "It is our collective hope to keep our youth out of the criminal justice system altogether by providing positive, life-altering supports in our community. This funding will allow us to focus on the root causes of violence, and keep them and our community, safe and alive."
The TRUCE intervention program was founded partly by District Attorney Hillar Moore; former Baton Rouge Police Chief Jeff LeDuff; Sheriff Sid Gautreaux; and has been supported by key business leaders, BRPD Chief Murphy Paul, Mayor Sharon Weston Broome and others.
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