Democratic Norfolk County Sheriff Candidate Patrick McDermott Releases Plan to Help Norfolk County Youth
QUINCY – Democratic candidate for Norfolk County Sheriff, Patrick McDermott, announced today his plan to help “young people in crisis” in Norfolk County avoid jail time and become productive members of their communities.
“Many of the people who end up in the Norfolk County Correctional Facility are young and first-time offenders,” Patrick McDermott said. “I believe we can change that path through early intervention, education and positive experiences. Young people in crisis require specialized interventions, including before they ever set foot in the House of Corrections, as well as continued support after release. As Sheriff this will be one of my top priorities.”
If elected, McDermott will begin a comprehensive revision of the department’s programming and outreach to youth in Norfolk County. As part of his plan, he will look to increase at-risk youth programming, including expanding the Sheriff’s Camp to a second location in the southern part of the county and increasing participation from one to two weeks. To extend the positive camp experience, he is also aiming to create a “counselor-in-training” program at the camp for youth aged 14-17 that will provide valuable leadership training.
Knowing that year-round support for our youth is critical, McDermott’s plan also includes the implementation of a mentor program to ensure that the kids involved in these programs have a continued outlet and positive influence throughout the year.
McDermott will also increase partnerships with community youth organizations throughout Norfolk County to help support their efforts for our children.
For those young people who have been incarcerated, McDermott’s focus is to provide opportunities to get them on the right path and stop them from reoffending. If elected Sheriff, McDermott will work to institute a separate unit for young and first-time non-violent offenders that provides greater support and a more focused approach on mental health, life skills, and rehabilitation to ensure they don’t return. His plan also re-evaluates, improves and expands upon the existing GED program in the House of Corrections to ensure that it is meeting the needs of inmates during and after incarceration. He plans to partner with local community colleges and trade schools to ensure continued education for inmates post-release that will provide necessary job-based skills to help fight recidivism.
McDermott added, “It is time for the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office to become a resource for all the communities of Norfolk County. A narrow focus on incarceration ignores real threats to public safety in our county, including lack of education and job insecurity. The Sheriff’s Office has the opportunity – and the responsibility – to address these challenges before people end up in the House of Corrections.”
For the past 18 years, Patrick McDermott has served the 28 cities and towns of Norfolk County as the Register of Probate, where he has worked to improve services and efficiency in the Probate and Family Court. At the same time, he has worked with community organizations to increase education and awareness, help victims of domestic violence, and provide new avenues for the residents of Norfolk County to engage with the Norfolk County Family and Probate Court.
For more information, visit https://patrickmcdermott.org
