Articles & News

March 4, 2009

GA Dougherty County DA sees an increase in crime ahead

Ricki Barker ricki.barker@albanyherald.com

District Attorney Gregory Edwards spoke with Rotary Club members about the crime issues the county is currently facing and what is being done to combat them.

ALBANY� Citing a recent string of armed robberies as evidence, District Attorney Gregory Edwards said that Dougherty County residents will have to brace themselves for a projected increase in crime.

�We are expecting an up-turn in crime,� Edwards said Tuesday in a speech to Rotary Club members. �Because of the economic climate and the increase in stress we are predicting that crimes will continue to escalate throughout this year and next year.�

Edwards said that the community needs to begin working on preventing crime and helping those reformed from crime to return back to their homes.

According to Edwards, the best way to prevent criminal activity is to keep children in school. Edwards cited the work of the Student Attendance Review Board (S.A.R.B) which is a partnership between the Dougherty County Office and the District Attorney to address the problem of school truancy.

�In the state of Georgia, by law, a child between the ages of six to 16 must attend school,� said Edwards. �This program is one of prevention and intervention.�

The program holds parents and students accountable for excessive school absences whether excused or unexcused. Edwards said that truancy is a precursor for juvenile delinquency and adult criminality.

�If we address these issues early on we may be able to prevent this habit from becoming ingrained and prevent future criminals from ever being.� said Edwards.

Edwards said that the recent string of armed robberies was what authorities believe to be an initiation for gang members.

�It�s for lower level gang members that want to go up in the gang,� said Edwards.

�The district attorney�s office is working with local authorities to institute a gang task force that will work to locate active gang members and put them in jail,� said Edwards. �The city has indicated that these officers (that will be hired) will be dedicated solely to handling gang activity.�

In addition to implementing this new force, Edwards said that local businesses will need to protect themselves from future crimes.

�We are asking business people to use quality surveillance video,� said Edwards. �We have also talked to stores that have been selling drug paraphernalia to consider taking these items off the shelves. �The same folks that are buying your drug paraphernalia will probably be the same people that end up robbing you.��

Edwards said that in the county�s war against drugs, ADDU has made some improvements. The district attorney�s office is working closely with ADDU to increase the reporting and apprehending of suspects who are selling or using illegal drugs. Edwards said that it is important that communities are encouraged to report these illegal practices.

�I tell them to let me know and we�ll go get them,� Edwards said. �We have made arrests based on witnesses calling in a reporting.�

Another problem facing the community is the re-entry of convicted defendants, Edwards said.

Georgia has the fifth largest prison population in the country and it costs taxpayers $50 a day to house each inmate. Edwards said the goal of the criminal justice system is to reduce the amount of repeat offenders and rehabilitate inmates.

�These people are going to be returning to their homes and are going to need support,� said Edwards. �We are working with local business to create opportunities of employment to these individuals so that they will not return back to a life of crime.�

The district attorney�s office is attempting to match returnees with local business that are willing to hire convicted defendants.

One current issue that is growing in Dougherty County is teen pregnancy, said Edwards.

�Not only is this a social issue it is also a criminal and medical issue,� said Edwards. �It�s criminal because teen pregnancy is usually combined with statuary rape and sexual abuse.�

Edwards said that Dougherty County is �running rampant� with sexually transmitted diseases, which makes teen pregnancy a medical issue as well.

�The community has to make a conservative effort to prevent teen pregnancy,� said Edwards.

Edwards said that other issues that go unnoticed due to underreporting are elder abuse, financial scams and domestic violence.

�No one wants to report (financial scams) because they don�t want to admit that they have been duped,� said Edwards. �But the only way to stop this from happening is if victims report to the police.�

When dealing with domestic violence issues, Edwards said, that most people �sweep it under� and refuse to get authorities involved.

�Domestic violence accounts for 60 percent of violent crimes committed,� Edwards said. �Due to the stress from the economy we will only see that increase. Courts must take actions in dealing with offenders with a record of repeated domestic violence charges.�

Edwards said that actions that civilians can take to prevent crime in their community include staying alert, reporting crime when it is witnessed, and participating in neighborhood watch programs.

A need for more law enforcement personnel was also addressed by Edwards.

�We need more �boots on the ground��, said Edwards. �Crime does not abate. With a few more trained personnel out there we might be able to prevent crime from happening.�

Edwards said that the largest obstacle he faces is the shrinking budget.

�It�s about trying to use what we have and make sure that all the basics are still covered,� said Edwards. �Public safety is our biggest concern right now. I�ve been encouraging government officials that when they are planning there cuts to not cut public safety.�