TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Just this week alone, we've learned that seven Tallahassee teens will be tried as adults for various crimes.
The Leon County Sheriff's Office recognizes there's a problem here. And even though it's an urgent issue for Leon County, it's not new.
Deputies have been working with community groups and other agencies for more than 10 years to work identify troubled youth and get them out of bad situations.
The sheriff's office recognizes that today's teens are tomorrow's leaders and it's important to have conversations with them to help better shape the future of Leon County.
In the last several months, school resource deputies have begun working with teens who are on probation through the "Back on Track" program.
Once school is out for the summer, investigators expect to see a small rise in problems and crimes involving teenagers, as some may feel bored, or act impulsively. It's important, however to think before you do.
"Sometimes we tell people to count to 10. Think about what's going to happen. If you're thinking about doing something that may be violent, think about what those consequences can be," said Deputy Dave Teems, LCSO's public information officer. "Take a moment and think what happens and how it's going to affect not only you and the person involved, but how that can affect the families as well."
The sheriff's office is hosting a Wake-Up Call rally Saturday to get teens and the rest of the community talking, in hopes of showing them that violence is not the way to work out their problems.
The Wake-Up Call rally will be at Godby High School from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., and is open the everyone in the community. This rally also coincides with the National Wear Orange campaign to bring awareness to gun violence.
As part of National Gun Violence Awareness Day, the capitol will be glowing orange, starting Friday at 8:30 p.m.
