[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15987]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE CITY OF MAULDIN, SOUTH CAROLINA, ON ITS MUNICIPAL 
            ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

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                            HON. BOB INGLIS

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 16, 2010

  Mr. INGLIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the City of 
Mauldin, South Carolina, on its Municipal Association of South Carolina 
Achievement Award for improving relations between the Mauldin Police 
Department and youth community. Through four innovative youth 
initiative programs, Mauldin police officers interacted with the young 
people in a positive, hands-on way.
  The Mauldin Youth Court puts first-time juvenile defenders in a 
student-run trial. The jury of high school students hands out sentences 
typically consisting of community service, tutoring, or an essay. The 
program has seen success evidenced by a recidivism rate 5 percent lower 
than the rest of the state.
  The Youth Academy program targets middle-school students who have met 
the police department in negative circumstances. Together the Mauldin 
police department and other community members interact with the 
students for four weeks in circumstances not involving disciplinary 
measures. After the four weeks have concluded, each student is 
delegated an officer for a year-long mentorship program.
  Mauldin's police community also has made an effort to create a more 
formative relationship with adolescents through the Fifth Quarter 
program. With the help of the local high school and churches, the 
program hosts students at the local skating rink after school sporting 
events to prevent swarming and loitering. Officers serve free food and 
hand out prizes throughout the night. The program successfully has 
eliminated juvenile delinquency after football games, leading to a 
possible expansion of the program after basketball games.
  The Mauldin Youth Academy and Explorer programs give youth community 
a chance to interact directly with the police department through hands-
on activities and mentorship. These programs not only teach adolescents 
about law enforcement but also give the police department a desired 
pool of potential candidates when hiring new officers.
  I am honored to see the City of Mauldin's novel youth programming 
with these four initiatives. The Mauldin Police Department is giving 
students the opportunity to interact with officers to proactively 
address juvenile crime and garnering interest in law enforcement while 
serving and protecting the entire Mauldin community.

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