TIGER, GA — High school juniors from across the county swapped their classrooms for the confines of the Rabun County Detention Center this past Monday as part of Forward Rabun’s Youth Leadership program. The experiential learning trip provided students with a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the complexities of local law enforcement and the corrections system.
The cohort, featuring representatives from Rabun County High School and Tallulah Falls School, met directly with Sheriff Mark Gerrells to discuss the challenges and responsibilities of leading a public safety agency.
The detention center visit is included annually in each of Forward Rabun’s youth leadership features, as public safety awareness is certainly a cornerstone of the program’s curriculum. And, the program continues to utilize a University of Georgia model which encourages leadership development outside traditional settings. During the tour, students explored the facility’s operations, from intake procedures to the daily management of the inmate population.
Each year, program offerings are designed to introduce these young leaders to the vital infrastructure that keeps our community functioning. So, meeting with the Sheriff allows students to see the human side of law enforcement and understand the weight of ethical leadership in a high-stakes environment.
Beyond the jail cells, the students engaged in a question-and-answer session with deputies and specialized units. Monday’s visit included demonstrations from K9 handlers regarding canine participation in tracking and drug interdiction. And, Monday’s visit was highlighted as eager students watched K9 officer Spike showcase his skills in narcotic detection and fugitive apprehension.
Sheriff Gerrells emphasized the importance of community partnership, noting that programs like this bridge the gap between local youth and the Sheriff’s Office. “We want these students to see that being a leader often means making difficult decisions for the greater good of the community,” Gerrells noted during the session.
The Youth Leadership program continues to be a collaborative effort supported by Rabun County School Superintendent Steve Cole and other local educational heads. By exposing students to diverse career paths—from healthcare to criminal justice—the program aims to retain talent within Rabun County.
As the 2025-26 cohort nears its graduation in April, participants will carry these experiences back to their respective schools, better equipped to serve as the next generation of civic-minded leaders. The Forward Rabun Youth Leadership Program continues to be a collaborative initiative designed to develop local high school juniors into Rabun’s future civic and business leaders. The program is exclusively open to high school Junior students.