Kay County Sheriff’s Department gives kids a reality check

Some Kay County kids will receive a reality check this summer. The Kay County Sheriff’s Department is hosting a program called ARC. Kevin Main with the department said ARC stands for at risk children.

“What it is, is a program where we bring in juveniles that are heading down the wrong road," Main said. "Basically, it shows them what it’s like to be in jail if they don’t change there mind and start changing their ways.”

The kids will talk to a judge, then be hand cuffed, put in a transport van and brought to the jail. At the jail they will suit up and talk to inmates about their experience.

The program is open to children between 8 and 17. The only stipulation is the child can’t be facing any county charges at the time.

Main said registration has begun.

" A lot of it is either sent to us by municipal courts, or whether it be school counselors or parents, they’re the ones that kind of submit it to us that they would like their child to go through this," Main said. "They’re ones that see the pattern of development that some things going wrong."

To enroll a child just call the Sheriff’s Department at (580)362-2517. They will ask a few questions like, what makes you think this child would be good for the program and what have they been doing?

This first class is July 8 , and following classes are the second and fourth Tuesday of the month throughout the summer. It’s about a two an a half hour program from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The department arrived at the idea because of Oklahoma City’s nationally ranked, Reality Check program. They also spoke with a lot of people in the area and found there was a high demand for this class. Main said parents from as far as Winfield have already been calling.