Community Education Programs

The Sheriff's Office has many Community Education Programs for citizens of Mercer County to keep them informed on crime prevention methods and personal safety. Throughout the year, Sheriff's personnel visit all areas of Mercer County providing discussion, instruction and demonstration for adults and children to help make their lives safer. Some of our highly effective work is geared towards seniors, some toward students and some towards the public at large. Whether aimed at those at home, at work or in school, these programs have made local residents better educated about crime awareness and prevention.

Our programs are designed for individuals, families, social and religious organizations and teachers. Please contact the Sheriff's Office if you are interested in scheduling a program or have any questions please call (609) 278-7159.

Child Car Seat Safety Program 

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office conducts child seat safety checks at the Colonial Fire Company, located at 801 Kuser Road in Hamilton Township. The free program, partially funded by a grant from the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety, is part of the Sheriff's Office ongoing campaign to help parents, grandparents, expecting parents, and others to properly secure their children in an automobile. Trained and certified Sheriff's Officers conduct each child seat check for proper installation. 

The car seat safety check-ups take place from 5 to 8 p.m.on the last Tuesday of each month (there are no inspections in December due to the holiday season). Inspections take place in a weather-protected area in the rear of the firehouse. Participants should install their car seats before arrival and follow all health-minded guidance while at the event. For more information on the Sheriff's Office Car Seat Safety Program, call 609-278-7159.  

During the spring and fall seasons, Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler provides local residents the opportunity to dispose of unneeded and expired prescription drugs during the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The goal is to help local residents to rid their medicine cabinets of unused and easily abused opioid painkillers, in addition to any other unneeded prescription medications with no questions asked. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible method for disposing of unneeded and expired prescription pills. 

For more information, contact the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office at 609-278-7159.

Kids Programs

Fingerprint Program

The objective of the Fingerprint Program is to provide parents with a permanent record of their child's finger prints.

The Fingerprint Programs are conducted at school functions, community events or even shopping malls. A Sheriff's Officer fingerprints both hands of the child. Upon completion of the fingerprinting, the parent is presented with a card that not only contains the fingerprints, but also other pertinent information. Parents are urged to keep the fingerprint card in a safe guarded area, as it is very important in helping to either locate or identify their child.

Court House Tours

Students visit the Court House and are given an overview of the responsibilities of Sheriff's Officers and are allowed to sit in Juvenile and Criminal Court. They are brought to other offices located in the Court House where an employee of that office will give them a description of their responsibilities. These offices include the County Clerk, Prosecutor, and the Detention Center. Also, SERT and K-9 Demonstration are incorporated into this program.

Court House Tours may only be scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.The Officer conducting the tour will make all arrangements with other offices.

Gun Safety Program

The Gun Safety Program gives children preventative information needed pertaining to contact with a firearm.

The children are taught to avoid all contact with another child or person in possession of a firearm. The children are made aware of the consequences faced, when a crime is committed with a firearm. The debilitating effects of being shot, as well as the social and economic effects on the individuals, is also explained in detail. Finally, a question and answer period, is provided to the children, by a Sheriff’s Officer.

Gun Lock Program

The Gun Lock Program is a program where the Sheriff’s Office will provide a free gun lock to anyone who requests one. The gun locks are provided to this Office by Project Childsafe, which is a national program, whose purpose is to promote safe firearm handling and storage. The program is funded by a U.S. Department of Justice grant. The gun locks fit on most types of handguns, rifles and shotguns. The goal of this program, is to prevent a child or any other unauthorized person, from accessing a firearm in your home. Any Mercer County resident, who would like to receive a free gun lock, can do so, by calling the Programs Unit at 609-278-7159.