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Media contact:
Ericka Tomlinson
(202) 223-3447
Washington, DC - The Alliance for Children and Families is dismayed by the new report, Youth Crime/Adult Time-Is Justice Served? Its findings confirm that sending youth into adult courts and jails for non-violent offenses is an escalating abuse of the justice system. The situation deserves nationwide attention from all levels of governmental and community leaders. The Alliance believes that federal, state, and local government policies emphasizing community revitalization and family-strengthening support services are needed to curb crime and reduce violence among youth offenders. The disproportionate confinement of minority youth also needs to be addressed.
A nationwide expansion of affordable services and programs for at-risk youth is urgently needed to prevent and combat juvenile delinquency. The Alliance encourages policy makers to support individual, alternative punishments and rewards for good behavior to low-level offenders, incorporating intensive social services, education and job training, where appropriate. Future public policy must promote alternative forms of conflict resolution, peer mediation and youth development programs.
Statistically, youth development has been credited with decreasing antisocial behaviors, including violence, drug and alcohol use, and school dropout rates. Consequently, we are pleased to be promoting an exciting piece of legislation that places youth development on the national agenda. The Younger Americans Act, recently introduced in Congress, will create a national youth policy and authorize funds for communities to develop programs that empower young people. Young people need positive choices that will help them reach their full potential and this legislation goes a long way in providing them.
The Alliance for Children and Families is a nonprofit membership association representing more than 350 child- and family-serving organizations. Serving more than 5 million individuals each year in more than 2,000 communities, Alliance members provide a vast array of services ranging from domestic violence prevention and intervention to residential care for youth.