Leaders In Law Awards

The Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) was recognized for meeting adversity with resiliency by improving its financial health, reducing turnover by implementing competitive salaries, expanding infrastructure, actively engaging with the community, implementing comprehensive deputy training, all while planning future expansions and services for elderly and special needs citizens. Sheriff Chris Savoie & former Sheriff Ron Johnson accepted the award.

The 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office of Iberia, St. Martin, & St. Mary Parishes was recognized for its effective management of justice across the parishes they serve despite limited resources. For excelling in collaboration with local law enforcement, efficient case management, comprehensive training, and reducing juvenile crime and truancy and their dedication to supporting crime victims and promoting community safety. District Attorney Bo Duhe accepted the award.

According to the FBI, most Caddo Parish sex trafficking arrests happen when victims are being transported to Dallas, Atlanta, and beyond. The Caddo Parish DA’s Office recognizes that sex trafficking is a threat to both children and adults in the community. Trafficking victims face a myriad of physical and mental health issues, homelessness, and criminal charges.

Trafficking victims are often forced into prostitution to provide income for their traffickers or to provide for themselves if they have escaped their traffickers. Through a life of prostitution, the victims face arrest, prosecution, jail time, and fines, which all add to their criminal history. This criminal history creates barriers to educational programs and jobs that pay a living wage. In response to the human trafficking crisis, the Caddo Parish DA’s office partnered with HUB Ministry. This partnership enables women who are facing criminal charges of prostitution to enter the Exit Strategy diversion program. Exit Strategy is a life skills and wellness program where those women can gain access to resources that lead to full recovery and restoration. Exit Strategy offers both a non-residential and residential program. Once participants complete either the non-residential or residential program, the Caddo Parish DA’s office dismisses the participant’s criminal charges. Remarkably, none of the Exit Strategy participants have re-offended. Just a few success stories include a licensed realtor, a medical assistant, and the owner of a cleaning business.

The Caddo Parish DA’s Office also works to rehabilitate “Johns” – those who solicit sex trafficking victims who are working as prostitutes. The offenders learn about the devastating impact of human trafficking and its consequences on the community and individuals. Once the offenders successfully complete the John School, The DA’s office dismisses their charges of promoting prostitution.

The Caddo Parish DA’s Office also provides diversion for youthful offenders who are sex-trafficking victims. S.T.A.R (Succeeding Through Achievement and Resiliency) Court provides interventions for delinquent youth who are victims of sex trafficking. Once S.T.A.R Court youthful offenders complete their programs, the district attorney closes their case.

The Caddo DA’s office has developed and expanded programs to help sex trafficking victims lead healthy, productive lives. These diversion initiatives allow participants to gain access to resources that lead to full recovery and restoration while ending the revolving door into the criminal justice system

In 2017, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office opened a one-of-a-kind community center and park which is strictly serviced and maintained by the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. The Hickley M. Waguespack Center and Park, named after a sheriff who went to great lengths to modernize the sheriff’s office during the Civil Rights Movement, provides an outlet for children and residents of Donaldsonville and West Ascension to interact with deputies in a positive way. The driving force behind the project was due to the sheriff’s office responding to incidents of violent crime in the area over the past several years. Since opening, crime in the area has decreased in a tremendous way, and children, as well as adults, now have a safe space to play, do homework, and interact with a deputy in a positive way.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office is committed to community policing at the highest levels by not just policing the parish and attending various community events, but embedding themselves in the community that they serve and protect by providing computers, internet access, an abundance of age-appropriate books, and partnerships with libraries, schools, and other community organizations monthly.

The Waguespack Center is staffed by a 20-year veteran deputy, a retired Major, a retired Captain, and a groundskeeper. Future plans for the Waguespack Center and Park includes the addition of an early childhood development center which will allow the Ascension Sheriff’s Office to be a part of the solution in making a significant impact on scholastic success and helping to improve social responsibility, socioeconomic status, lower crime rates, all while providing a positive impact on community policing.

RESPECT U was established after studying the underlying causes of habitual criminal activity. The reoccurring theme among the defendants was a severe lack of proper respect. RESPECT U is an umbrella program incorporated into existing school programs that focuses on self-respect, respect for others, and respect for the community at large. Community support was garnered through the distribution of yard signs and stickers, a promotional video including local students, campaigns via press releases and social media, and engaging community stakeholders. A few of the age-specific programs include: Introduction to Respect which begins in 4th grade, PEP Talk which is a gender-specific program for middle schoolers focusing on self-esteem for girls and conflict resolution for boys, and Domino Effect and Wobble Goggles for high schoolers which focuses on the dangers of distracted and impaired driving.

The Lafourche Parish DA’s office also values the senior citizens in its community and hosts Senior Sources events throughout the parish. Through a partnership with the Clerk of Court and the parish Assessor, these educational seminars serve to educate seniors who are often seen as easy targets for scammers thus becoming victims of crime. The partnered agencies discuss resources available to the seniors and the easiest way to access these resources.

Additionally, as part of its Victims’ Rights Department, the Lafourche Parish DA’s Office has a licensed clinical social worker who, on a daily basis, identifies victims who need to be contacted immediately. This personal contact with the victim is one of the most important steps in building trust, not only with the DA’s office but within the criminal justice system.

DMAC services male students ages 9-18 by offering support in academics, future planning, hygiene, money management, healthy lifestyle regimens, life skills, college and career readiness, and problem solving. DMAC addresses the need for strong mentors in a positive environment, educational support and improving behavior. The purpose of the program is to decrease the amount of school suspensions and expulsions, increase school attendance and maintain or increase grade point averages among at-risk youth in Ouachita Parish. Over the last 12 years, DMAC has directly impacted over 5000 students and has a 98% graduation success rate. DMAC Founder, Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Tramble along with Lt. Eric McElroy and Cpl. Marvin McFarland continue to remind the mentees, “ You cannot let where you come from dictate where you will go in life.” The DMAC Program shows young men how to change their lives and create success for themselves.

Opportunity Now, a collaboration with the LA Workforce Commission, XP Synergy, and LA Rehabilitation Services has provided more than 100 low risk, non-violent, first-time offenders the opportunity to receive life skills and work readiness training to divert individuals out of the Criminal Justice System. It also fosters intervention that is accountable to effectuate successful outcomes and change their trajectory to get back on the right path. Since the program’s inception, in May 2015, only three graduates have re-offended. St. John P.R.O.U.D., a proactive crime prevention program, focuses on providing young adults life-changing employment opportunities that will deter them from embarking on a life of crime. District Attorney Bridget A. Dinvaut also recognizes the positive impact that education, combined with meaningful opportunities, can have on a person’s life. According to Dinvaut, in many instances, criminal activity becomes an economic opportunity for many young adults that are not employed or in school. District Attorney Dinvaut wholeheartedly believes that crime prevention, restorative justice, and rehabilitation programs are vital to public safety and investing in the future of her community family, St. John the Baptist Parish.