Drug Abuse Resistance Education ­ D.A.R.E. is a popular drug abuse prevention education program designed to equip elementary, middle and high school children with knowledge about drug abuse, the consequences of abuse, and skills for resisting peer pressure to experiment with drugs, alcohol and tobacco. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff¹s Office D.A.R.E. program is based on the premise that prevention is the only long-term answer to drug abuse.
This unique program uses a specially trained Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff¹s Deputy to teach a formal curriculum to students in a classroom setting.
 

D.A.R.E. lesson plans focus on four major areas:

1. Providing accurate information about drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
2. Teaching students good decision-making skills.
3. Showing students how to recognize and resist peer pressure.
4. Giving students ideas for positive alternatives to drug use.

D.A.R.E officers work with children to raise their self-esteem, teach them how to make decisions on their own, and help them identify positive alternatives to drugs. Through role-playing, the D.A.R.E., curriculum emphasizes the negative consequences of drug use, and reinforces the skills to resist peer pressure and intimidation.

Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) ­ Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards believes education and training are positive ways to curb violent behavior with our young people.
GREAT is a thirteen week program that focuses on anti-gang and anti-violence behavior. The program meets once a week during that thirteen week period with a graduation period at the completion of the course.
The program is designed for Sixth Graders and it is intended to be fun, educational and memorable. Currently the program is available in the following schools: Independence Middle School, Hammond Eastside and Amite Westside. The Sheriff¹s Office is looking to expand this program to other schools in the near future.
 

Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (S.A.L.T.) ­ This program is designed for senior citizens in the community to stay informed about the services provided to them by the Tangipahoa parish Sheriff¹s Office. Members of the SALT team maintain all reports that may concern the well-being of the senior citizens in Tangipahoa Parish. The SALT Team also has maintains a national directory of certified contacts to help them provide services to the parish¹s senior citizens.

Neighborhood Watch ­ Across the parish, crime is a major concern. Neighbors and other concern citizens, working cooperatively with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff¹s Office can have a positive effect on crime prevention. Funded by the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff¹s Office, Neighborhood Watch is gaining popularity in many of the area neighborhoods. Currently, a mapping system is being created to determine the neighborhood contact as well as determine areas that are covered by the Neighborhood Watch.
To start a Neighborhood Watch in your area, please contact the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff¹s Office at 985.345.6150.

For more information on the TPSO Neighborhood Watch Program click here.
 

Juvenile Delinquency Program - This program is designed to help adolescents and teenagers change their ways before entering the criminal justice system. The Juvenile Division of the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff¹s Office offers a structured program to meet with the offending youth and their parents or guardian to teach corrective behavior. This includes three monthly meetings with topics such as Anger Management Techniques and Resisting Peer Pressure. Juveniles are referred to the Juvenile Division from the Family In Need (FIN) Divisions of City Court and District Court. Juveniles are also referred to this program from arresting officers as well.