Community Programs

 



SPRING CLASS SIGN UPS ARE AVAILABLE
PLEASE EMAIL WITH YOUR INFORMATION SO WE MAY CONTACT YOU FOR THE NEXT CLASS

 

What:  The Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office Advanced Teen Driving Spring Classes.

 

When: To be determined in Spring of 2010

 

Where: To be determined in Spring of 2010

 

Why: Teenagers and young adults aged 16-24 are disproportionately involved in motor vehicle crashes. 

 

Those motor vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of death for the age group worldwide. 

 

Each year nearly 400,000 people under the age of 25 die on the worlds roadways for an average of over 1000 a day.

 

In Michigan drivers aged 16-24 account for 14% of licensed drivers but account for 22.7% of drivers involved in traffic crashes.  The same age group accounts for 22.8% of the drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes. 

 

The class:

 

The class is an intense one day program that teaches teen drivers advanced defensive driving skills.

 

The class is a program to help teens modify their own driving behavior to reduce the risk of being involved in a crash it will provide behind the wheel defensive driving and accident avoidance skill training.

 

We will prepare the students with  how to react mentally and physically to different driving situations and give them options on how to react under stressful driving conditions. The students will be driving on the track portion as much as possible keeping with the “Practice like you play concept.

 

Each class is a one day class designed for teen drivers aged 16-17 years old that have had their drivers license for at least 1 year.

 

Each class will consist of 15 students who will take it FREE OF CHARGE thanks to our sponsors!

 

The class time consists of several different topics.

 

Track Driving:

 

All student driving will be done with certified police driving instructors.

 

The students will drive the following exercises.

Serpentine, Precision Maneuvering, Evasive Maneuvering/Crash Avoidance, and Emergency Braking.

The exercises will be done with passenger cars and SUV’S.  To give the students an idea how different the vehicles are.

 

Vehicle Maintenance:

 

All students will be given a class on vehicle maintenance that includes fluid level checks, checking air pressure and changing of tires, and other maintenance related issues by the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office Fleet Vehicle Manager Mark Hunt.

 

Spot the Tot:

 

Students will participate in exercises designed to give them an idea of vision impairments while backing vehicles. 

 

Air Bag Demonstration:

 

Rypma Chevrolet will be doing an air-bag deployment demonstration.

 

No Zone Demonstration:

 

There will be a semi truck No Zone demonstration which will be given by UPS.

 

Additional information:

 

Lunches, Pop, and Water will be provided to the students free of charge.

 

The Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following sponsors for the donations of their time, services, and equipment that have kept this class FREE to the students.

Michigan's Adventure for the facilities.

 

Rypma Chevrolet in Whitehall for the vehicles.

 

Source One Digital for all of the printing, car graphics, logos, and advertising.

 

Trophy House and Jones Sports for the event t-shirts for the students.

 

Graffiti Wraps for the graphics work on the vehicles.

 

State Farm Insurance for their donation of a complete media center to be used in the training.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION:

 

This free class is available first come first serve and sign up only.  Current driving status will be checked prior to approval.

 

To inquire about sponsorship possibilities or anyone who has a young driver who wishes to sign them up for this free class can contact Dep. John Yax at the Muskegon Count Sheriff’s Office (231)724-7136 or (231)724-6259 or email advancedteendriving@co.muskegon.mi.us

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

Victim Services of Muskegon County is a non-profit, community based agency which assists police, fire and other emergency services in providing emotional and practical assistance to victims of crime, tragic circumstances and disaster.


OBJECTIVES: 

  • To lessen the trauma of being victimized.
  • To help the victim cope with the impact of crime and/or tragic circumstances.
  • To facilitate the victim in accessing appropriate support services in our community.
  • To educate and promote victim assistance in our community.

 

 

What is the Victim/Witness Advocacy Program?
The Michigan Sheriff's Association (MSA) in cooperation with local Sheriff Offices have created a program to provide on the scene support and aid to victims or witnesses to a crime, serious accidents, etc.  Specially trained volunteers are contacted by Deputies responding to or at the scene of an incident and the volunteers respond where needed to assist victims or witnesses. They often can assist officers by staying with those victims or witnesses in need of assistance or comforting while the officers are free to conduct their investigation.  
Working as a team, usually in pairs, the Victim Services Unit members can comfort the victim, aid in crisis intervention counseling, arrange for transportation, notify family or friends or even arrange for a babysitter. The victim advocate team members can explain the nature of a victims rights, as well as describing how the justice system works and often accompany victims through the court procedures that may come later.  Basically, the Victims Service Unit members stay and support the victims long after the officers leave.

Who are the Victim Services Unit Members?
The members are made up of volunteers from all walks of life: professional people, blue collar workers, home-makers, retirees, and college students. The common aspect of all our members is that they have a willingness to "get involved" and "they care"

How does someone become a member of the Victim Services Unit?
Members are sought through newspaper advertisements, civic groups or just word of mouth.  Written applications of prospective members are reviewed by the Sheriff, the local program coordinator selected by the Sheriff, and by a state wide coordinator. A background check is conducted on each and every prospective member and the final candidates are contacted for training.  Training consists of an accredited 40 hour course providing members with information on the following:

-An overview of the Criminal Justice system.
-Instruction in Crisis Management.
-Empathetic Communications Techniques.
-A review of Michigan's Crime Victims Rights laws.

Specific guidance in working with a wide array of victims including: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Neglected & Abused Children, and families forced to cope with a loss as a result of Murder, Suicide, or Accidental Death.  As part of their training, members are often subject to "Role Playing" to help them cope with actual crisis situations when they occur.

What compensation do Victim Services members receive?
Only the satisfaction of knowing they have helped someone in need. Our members are all volunteers and give of their time and hard work freely to aid others in need.

How are Victim Services Unit Members notified?
The Sheriff Department is the local agency responsible for calling out team members. This is usually through a radio paging system at the Sheriff Dept. and members on call carry beepers with them.  But it is not only a Sheriff Department Officer who can request a Victim Services Unit to help in a crisis situation. Members can be called out by the Sheriff Dept. at the request of any local police agency, hospital, ambulance, etc.  Victims Services Unit members can usually be recognized thru a special windbreaker or jacket with the MSA Star on it. Although some funds are made available for supplies such as these jackets, beepers, etc., most of these items are purchased with local funds obtained through donations, fundraisers, etc.

What have the Victim Services Unit done in Muskegon County?
These members have provided a much needed service to our area and will continue to respond where ever and when ever needed.  Currently, the Muskegon Victim Services Unit are called out for murder and serious or fatal accidents.  As the shock wears off and the questions begin, the Victim Services Unit has been there for the family.  The Unit has also provided information about other organizations for assistance.

Being on call for one week a month is demanding both physically and emotionally and we are grateful to the volunteers of our local Victim Services Unit.

For more information:
Contact Muskegon County Sheriff Department's Victim Services Unit Coordinator 231-724-6351.

 

 

sheline.gif (3068 bytes)
Sheriff Observer News Road Jail Marine Support Community History Memorial Links Home

FOR NON-JAVA, NON-FRAMES AND/OR 640X480 BROWSERS USE ABOVE LINKS FOR BEST VIEWING.
Copyright © 2008 Muskegon County Sheriff's Office.  All rights reserved. This information is made available to the public and law enforcement community in the interest of public safety. Any unauthorized use of this information is forbidden and subject to criminal prosecution.  Questions, problems or comments, email here.
Site Designed by
Muskegon County Sheriff's Office personnel.