CJJ | Announcement: YOUTH PROMISE ACT
In response to a number of punitive gang bills that emphasize suppression and incarceration over prevention and intervention, on October 16, 2007, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va) introduced legislation that champions evidenced-based practices and provides an alternative approach for lawmakers looking for truly effective responses to youth crime and delinquency.
The Youth Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and Education Act (Youth PROMISE Act) builds upon evidence-based methods proven to reduce youth violence and delinquency at the community level. Under the Youth PROMISE Act, communities facing the greatest youth gang and crime challenges will come together – via a local council that includes law enforcement, community-based organizations, schools, faith organizations, health, social service, and mental health providers – to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies targeted at young people and their families to make our communities safer, reduce victimization, and help at-risk young people to lead law-abiding and healthy lives, free from gang and/or other criminal involvement.
CJJ is proud to have informed the drafting of Youth PROMISE Act in partnership with several youth-minded organizations. As of October 29 almost 40 House members are co-sponsoring the legislation, and more than 140 organizations across the nation have signed onto a letter in support of the PROMISE approach to reducing youth involvement in gang-related criminal activity.
If your Representative is not a current co-sponsor of the legislation, please encourage them to become one. Click below to view a Section-by-Section Summary of the bill, including a list of current co-sponsors.
If your SAG or organization has not signed the PROMISE letter of support ([2] click to view sample), we urge you to do so. Simply contact Tara Andrews at 202-467-0864, ext. 109 or [3] andrews@juvjustice.org for more information.[1] Section-by-Section Summary
[1]: http://juvjustice.org/media/fckeditor/Summary with Sponsors.pdf
[2]: http://juvjustice.org/media/fckeditor/Appropriations Template Letter.pdf
[3]: mailto:andrews@juvjustice.org