MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mentors are needed now more than ever for the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office’s new youth mentorship program.

The sheriff kicked off the new mentorship program this past school year, which ended with a trip to jail. 

Deputy Youth Mentor Tre Price says the program is an addition to the school resource division. He says they work closely with school counselors and administrators to connect with at-risk students.

“That means a lot to us knowing that we’re meeting a need and being the answer to a problem,” Price said. “If we can set a firm foundation of righteousness and integrity at that age, when they get into the middle school and high school ages, they will be able to avoid being persuaded into doing the wrong thing because they know who they will know who they are,” Price said.

He says they’ve spent the year engaging kids between the ages of 10 and 12 in youth leadership and development courses.

Price says they decided to close out the school year by showing the kids where they could end up if they make the wrong decisions. They took a trip to the county jail.

“We wanted them to not only see the different operations of the jail and within the sheriff’s office, but we also wanted them to see how impactful decisions are,” Price said.

The kids even got the opportunity to chat with a few of the inmates.

“The most asked question was ‘How did you get in here?’,” Price said.

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He says the goal is to guide the kids to a better quality of life, which is why he got involved. He wants to be the person who supports those in his community by providing resources, guidance, and most importantly, hope.

“Being a mentor, I would say, is pretty much being a life coach,” Price said.

While they’re wrapping up the school year, they’re not locking it up and throwing away the key.

Price says they’re ready to open the door this upcoming school year to more students and more mentors.

“Mentorship is something that’s needed on a global level. It’s not just here,” he said.

Price says if you would like to be a mentor, you can contact the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office.