NATCHEZ — Six of the seven remaining Adams County sheriff candidates presented their thoughts and plans for the county’s future at Thursday night’s sheriff forum.

The forum — sponsored by the NAACP and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. — gave sheriff candidates an opportunity to explain their platforms.

With the exception of Randy Freeman, all candidates took the floor at Reflections and answered questions posed by Angela Hutchins and Jessie Turner, as well audience members.

Much of the discussions centered on the recent influx of homicides in the county and child delinquency.

Many candidates said Neighborhood Watch programs were a possible solution.

“Everybody has to be out watching,” Craig Godbold said. “You have to be willing to talk to the law. We are employed by you and we work for you.”

Roosevelt Owens Jr. said he believes the program is the main element that will help lower the homicide rate.

“The Neighborhood Watch is the number one key,” Owens said.

Owens said in order to optimize the effect of the program, communication between the officers and the public must be made.

Cliff Cox said, like Owens, he believes a way to deter homicides can be found in the involvement of deputies in the community.

“We need a proactive patrol,” Cox said. “The deputies need to out and know what they’re looking for.”

However, while he endorses the Neighborhood Watch program, Greg Wisner said people tend to forget about the places in the county where neighbors aren’t easy to come by.

“The Neighborhood Watch program is fantastic, but you get out in the middle of the boonies and there are no neighbors,” Wisner said.

Wisner said an alternative program he would like to see started would be a mentoring program such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

“I think young people need someone to look up to,” Wisner said.

Charles R. “Chuck” Mayfield said some homicides were affiliated with gang activity.

“For too long, people in this community have denied the existence of gangs,” Mayfield said.

Mayfield said he wanted to see a gang-monitoring program set in place alongside the Neighborhood Watch.

Ray Brown said the recent violent crimes are because of “a lack of” something, stating that most crimes are committed to take something the culprit does not have, and by creating an environment where all people have the opportunity to achieve, crime will lessen.

“We have to help create good paying jobs,” Brown said.

The sheriff’s election will be Nov. 3.