For months, police in Statesville have tried to play nice with suspected criminals by offering them a shot at redemption.

Instead of bringing charges against alleged gang members, drug dealers and other offenders, Statesville police called them in to a meeting, in which the suspects were simply told to stop.

"We're saying, 'What you're doing is against the law.' We put them on fair notice, if you don't stop, this is what we're going to do (arrest you)," said Statesville Police Sgt. Dan Miglin.

Miglin has worked to get grants to fund the Statesville Iredell Gang Initiative.

The call-ins, warning suspects to stop or face severe penalties from police, is a central part of SIGI. However, several suspects who have been called in were ultimately arrested anyway -- but only after committing another crime.

"We have no illusions going into these meetings. We don't expect them to walk out as perfect angels," Miglin said.

Recently, Paris Jones and Dravery Mayfield were both arrested after attending a call-in, in which they were given a second chance in February.

In spite of the Jones and Mayfield cases, Statesville Police released data which suggests the call-in program is working.

Since 2010, there have been six call-ins involving 109 suspects. Of those 109 suspects, only 25 percent were later arrested and only five percent were arrested for the same crime they were warned about committing during their call-ins.

"We believe people have the ability to change, I believe people have the ability to change, my chief does too," Miglin said. "Some people are just going to reoffend, that's just a fact of life."

For those who do get busted after being warned at a call-in, Miglin said they would be subject to harsher penalties. People like Jones and Mayfield will also be used as an example of what not to do.

"We're going to use (Jones and Mayfield) at our next call-in to show people who are there at the next call-in, this guy sat in your seat. He didn't listen and now he's behind bars," Miglin said.