Realizing the importance of early intervention, and working in conjunction with Teen Court and the Sarasota County Police Athletic League, Camp X-RAYD (Examining Reality About Your Decisions) was developed to address the critical need in Sarasota County to provide our "at risk" youth with information and experiences so they can make law-abiding choices that will lead to productive lives.

The program places a focus on the development of leadership and communication skills as opposed to typical "boot camp" tactics. Each participant is encouraged to make their own decisions about their own lives. The camp focuses on educating the participants on the outcomes of their decisions if they choose to continue making poor decisions when dealing with drugs and alcohol.

Camp X-RAYD consists of a 12 hour day beginning when participants arrive at the Sheriff's training center at Knight's Trail Park at 0600 hours(6:00 am). After the participants have changed into jail uniforms, they are drug tested and lead through physical training and team building exercises.

During the afternoon session the participants are taken on a "tour of reality". The first stop is to the Sarasota County Jail where they are treated as inmates. The participants experience the smell, sounds and taste of what life in the correctional system feels like.

After experiencing how life would be in the correctional system, the participants are then exposed to the reality of medical trauma and death. The participants are given a tour of the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Emergency Room where they are exposed to the reality of what would happen if they were brought in for a drug overdose. The staff of the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Emergency Room explain in detail, the process of administering charcoal and pumping out the drugs from the body.

The participants are then transported from the ER to the Sarasota County Medical Examiners office.   During their visit, the participants are exposed to the reality of death and what steps are taken by the Medical Examiner's staff if they were brought in as a drug overdose casualty.

The day wraps up with the participants returning to Knight's Trail Park where they are allowed to return to civilian clothing and are then taken through their first of four counseling sessions.  Each counseling session addresses the significant factors regarding how their decisions have both long and short term impacts on emotional and physical health. Each participant is tracked to help them not to repeat the offenses that brought them to Camp X-RAYD in the first place.

For more information contact either the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Police Athletic League at 941-316-8108 or Teen Court at 941-861-8460.  All camp participants are by referral only.