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Jacksonville mayor, DCPS superintendent to meet about youth crime

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry will meet on Monday with Duval County superintendent of schools Dr. Nikolai Vitti to talk about how they can collaborate to reduce youth crime and violence.

“I remain frustrated -- incredibly frustrated, angry at times, sad at times when I see the things that are happening in parts of this city,” Curry said.

About a dozen Jacksonville teens were shot in January and guns were found in three different schools on Wednesday.

Curry said he plans to talk to Vitti about how to collaborate with Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams and State Attorney Melissa Nelson to address the youth crime and violence plaguing the city.

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“What are the things that we can do as a community to get to young folks, particularly young folks that are at risk for any number of factors, and demonstrate to them that there’s a better way forward? That we care about them. That this community loves them and we want them to make good decisions,” Curry said.

Curry said he plans to emphasize mentoring during Monday’s meeting.

“The most important thing that we can do in the community for young folks is some sort of mentoring. To have a presence in their life that is positive, that is there for them,” said Curry.

JSO sent Action News Jax a statement that said the sheriff is committed to working with local leaders to address the issue of gun violence.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office said she met with Curry last month about preventing violent crime. Nelson’s spokesman said one takeaway from that meeting was the need for the public’s help when it comes to preventing young people from illegally getting a hold of guns.