Macon-Bibb leaders prepare for new approach to youth crime

Macon-Bibb County leaders vowed Friday to continue the fight to prevent youth from committing crimes by using a more coordinated approach.

Various Macon-Bibb officials from juvenile justice, education, politics and nonprofit agencies were among those on hand to hear recommendations on how to better deal with crime prevention. The meeting, led by the Office of Justice Programs Diagnostics Center, was the culmination of more than a year of data collection and interviews in Macon peformed by the federal program.

The next step involves bringing together local agencies to develop and implement strategies, with the assistance of the OJP.

A 45-page report released Friday includes an overwhelming amount of information, but offers a chance to make significant strides in crime prevention targeting young people, Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said.

Macon-Bibb has a plethora or programs aimed at youth crime, but being better armed with data-based approaches and more coordinated, should make difference, he said.

"It's not anything that we don't know about, it's not anything we aren't dealing with everyday in our particular disciplines," Davis said. "It's our opportunity to coordinate and collaborate with each other."

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This story was originally published February 19, 2016 at 1:50 PM with the headline "Macon-Bibb leaders prepare for new approach to youth crime ."