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Home » Voter Information » 2011 Candidate Questionnaires
» Sheriff
Lafayette Parish Sheriff
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Elected
Michael "Mike" Neustrom
105 Clement St.
Lafayette, La, 70506
www.mikeneustrom.com
cprimo@cox.net
mneustrom47@gmail.com
Democrat
Catholic High New Iberia, 1965
USL, Sociology, Bachelor of Arts, 1970
Sam Houston State University, Master of Science, Police Science,1975
Sam Houston State University, PhD, Criminal Justice, 1977
University of Michigan, Post-Doctoral Studies- Summer Workshop
Boston University, Post-Doctoral Studies-Summer Workshop
38 years law enforcement
12 years Sheriff, Lafayette Parish
University Police Chief
Department Head, Criminal Justice, USL
Director of Acadiana Law Enforcement Training Academy
Co-founder St. Josephs Diner
Member of Louisiana Peace Officer Standards and Training Council
Member of Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement
Current Board Member of Acadiana Crime Lab
Member of Acadiana Youth, Inc.
Current Board Member of Lafayette Parish Communication District
Current Board Member of AMIKids Acadiana, Inc. |
Richard A. "Rick" Chargois
No information submitted |
| What programs would you propose to decrease the numbers of juveniles entering the criminal justice system? |
I have built long-standing partnerships with various entities, including Lafayette Parish School Board, to address the juvenile issue. Through our initiatives such as Leadership and Resiliency, Family Functional Therapy, and Truancy, we have provided services to 4,707 at-risk youth since 2006.
In future planning, I would like to see an assessment center that would allow police to drop off juveniles prior to being incarcerated, where they would be assessed and placed into appropriate services. Although incarceration is necessary for some individuals, studies have shown that strict incarceration for juveniles is not always the best course of action. The center, similar to one established in Calcasieu Parish, would be staffed with professionals in mental health, substance abuse, and medicine, who would evaluate and divert juveniles to appropriate resources within the community. Working with local law enforcement agencies, the judicial system and non-profits, we would coordinate services for the best possible
outcomes.
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| What do you foresee as the future of the Louisiana prison system? |
I believe the State’s budget problems will continue and that services at the state-level will continue to be downsized. Currently, over half of all State [DOC] inmates are held in parish jails. The rate paid to the Sheriff’s Office for housing DOC inmates ($24.39) is less than half the rate for housing them in DOC facilities. As budgetary problems continue, state prisons may be forced to close. Options will be to house more DOC inmates at local jails or private prisons, or release them into the population. This concerns me from a public safety position, and as such, we have set up appropriate programming for those individuals re-entering society. In 2010, LPSO was selected as a Re-Entry portal for State [DOC] inmates who are from Lafayette Parish. We will continue to assist the State in its solution for re-integrating Lafayette Parish offenders and providing savings to taxpayers.
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| What alternatives exist to conventional sentences and what alternatives would you choose to implement? |
Since 2001, the Sheriff’s Office has implemented Day Reporting, Home Monitoring, Work-Release, Out-Patient Drug Treatment, REHAB and REENTRY. Through these programs, we have assisted 5,391 offenders with drug treatment, anger management, communication skills, soft skills, job finding, housing, etc. Individuals who complete our programs are 30% less likely to recidivate compared to the national average of 65%. I believe these services should be expanded because 80% of the inmate population has either substance abuse issues or mental health issues. These alternative treatments and programs make for a safer community while delivering tax-savings to our citizens.
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| What is the single most important issue that is affecting the law enforcement, and beyond that, what is your solution to this problem? |
Our solution is to attack the problem through enforcement, education, and treatment. We utilize the STAR TEAM to attack street level drug sales. Lafayette Metro Narcotics Agents, DEA Task Force, and the FBI Gang Task Force are used to investigate and infiltrate the suppliers. These units also provide educational presentations in the community to inform and educate our youth to resist drugs.
The Lafayette Parish Correctional Center provides drug abuse counseling, educational opportunities; such as GED programs, and reentry programs; such as the work release program. These programs are intended to provide offenders with the skills, training, treatment, and employment opportunities to become successful members of our community.
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