CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – The Horry County Sheriff’s Office will soon launch a new program aimed at keeping teens out of jail.
The SOAR or Succeed, Overcome, Achieve and Re-educate Program will take current juvenile programs offered by the Solicitor’s Office to the next step by having them spend a night in lockup.
Sgt. Robert Butler and Lance Corporal Harold Connor with the Horry County Sheriff’s Office will lead the new initiative. They currently run a program where they work with the teens in the afternoon but they want to do more.
“There’s a need in our community and many communities in this state. Georgetown, Marion County, Florence alike, we all have the same problem. And in my opinion if one juvenile is in jail that’s one too many,” Sgt. Butler said.
When the program starts, participants will come to J. Reuben Long Detention where they will change into inmate uniforms, and be handcuffed and transported to the lockup facility at the Horry County Government & Justice Center. Officers have a rigorous night of activities lined up from there.
“We have to break them down so we work them. Exercise, push-ups, jumping jacks, running. We do all of this stuff to break that body down. Once that body gets broke then you can get in and work with it,” Connor said.
Connor says the goal is not to harm them so kids will get water, breaks and time to sleep but this won’t just be a one night thing. The officers want to use it as the beginning of a relationship and to establish trust.
“They will not work, no matter what we do if we have no follow-up with these kids. If we have them for one day and we send them home and we do no follow-up, then we’re no better than the people who brought them there to start with,” Connor said.
Program participants must be 12-16-years-old. Officers will only take 6 students at a time, so a committee will determine who will participate. There’s also a workshop for parents to learn better ways to interact with their kids.
Officer say they want everyone to leave the program better people than before they started.
“What I want to see them with a new-found sense on life. A respect for parents, adults themselves, law enforcement. Let’s face it, law enforcement has a bad name right now.” Sgt. Butler said.
Officers haven’t announced a start date.