CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM Reform involves ending the pipeline to prison and creating pathways for ex-offenders to re-engage back into society.
• Supporting school- and neighbor-hoodbased restorative justice practices that instill responsibility, reduce disci-plinary disparities and divert youth from the system in lieu of arrest for low-level offenses
• Supporting mentoring opportunities for at-risk girls and boys
• Expanding opportunities for ex-offenders
PROTECTION AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS The protection and empowerment of women and girls is paramount to the Jaguars players, organization and our community.
• Support programs that empower girls and women.
• Support local domestic violence shel-ters.
• Support relationship violence education, sexual-assault awareness programs and survivor-centered services.
ICARE & Jacksonville Jaguars
For years, hundreds of youth in Duval County were being arrested every year for minor offenses like stealing a soda or getting in a shoving match.
The members ICARE( Interfaith Coalition for Action, Reconciliation and Empowerment), representing faith communities of various religions across Jacksonville, were concerned about this life-long impact on youth. ICARE found the Jacksonville Sheriff’ s Office could issue civil citations to these youth so they could enter meaningful diversion programs. They were however, only using this option a quarter of the time. In 2017, ICARE assembled 1,500 people and challenged Sheriff Williams to issue civil citations the eligible youth. He agreed and the State Attorney helped to ensure that every youth in Duval, Nassau and Clay counties have access to this program. Last year, 82 % of eligible youth received civil citations and youth arrests were reduced by 500 children. Duval County went from having one of the highest juvenile arrest rates in the state to being a leader in the use of civil citations and effective restorative justice programs. This has had a meaningful impact in our youth and has saved our community an estimated $ 2.2 million dollars. The Jaguars players, through the NFL’ s Inspire Change platform, contributed to ICARE’ s continued good work.
WR Michael Walker and QB Gardner Minshew are given a behind the scenes tour of a Boys and Girls Club facility.
P Logan Cooke stopped by Ronald McDonald house to spend time with the residents and help decorate cookies.