CRIME »» CRIMES »» JUVENILE CRIME »» Jul 03, 2023

Although violent crime and property crime have declined steeply since the 1990s, there are still about 35,000 juvenile members in our nation’s gangs today – nearly 60% of whom live in large cities. About 10% are female. In 2019, law enforcement apprehended 976 gang members. It is estimated that fewer than half of all serious violent crimes by juveniles are reported to law enforcement. Advocates say our efforts to reduce the number of these crimes have not been successful. In the past, efforts to cut juvenile crime activity have centered on harsher jail sentences and prosecuting minors as adults. Critics claim that, rather than reducing crime, this policy has backfired by creating more career criminals. Social workers provide front line prevention and treatment services in the areas of school violence, aging, teen pregnancy, child abuse, domestic violence, juvenile crime and substance abuse. They offer valuable insight on these complex problems taking into account a wide range of social, medical, economic and community influences. Advocates claim the knowledge and experience of these professionals are invaluable in making informed decisions about how to best solve our juvenile crime problem. Pending Legislation: Reforming Alternatives to Incarceration and Sentencing to Establish a Better Path for Youth Act or the RAISE Act of 2023 Sponsor: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX) Status: House Judiciary Committee Chairperson: Rep. Jim Jordan (OH) I oppose reforming current juvenile crime policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA). I support modifying requirements and procedures related to the sentencing, confinement, and release of youth, 21 or younger, who are involved in the federal criminal justice system by allowing courts to: 1.) Depart from the statutory mandatory minimum for certain nonviolent offenses, reduce the prison term of a youth who has completed 20 years of the sentence, and treat as discretionary a sentence of imprisonment for life. 2.) Require the Bureau of Prisons to separately designate youth correctional facilities, minimize contact between youth and other offenders, and establish programs regarding youth education, skills training, reentry, and mental and emotional health. 3.) Promote reentry and reintegration into the community, including by providing an early release option for youth offenders who complete one half or more of their prison term and meet certain criteria; authorizing home confinement for a longer period of time; limiting the maximum prison term for technical violations of probation; establishing pilot programs for mentorship, government service, and animal service; and establishing pilot programs for diversion of high-risk, victimized, and primary caretaker youth. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Jim Jordan (OH) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

Winning Option »» I support modifying requirements and procedures related to the sentencing, confinement, and release of youth, 21 or younger, who are involved in the federal criminal justice system by allowing courts to: 1.) Depart from the statutory mandatory minimum for certain nonviolent offenses, reduce the prison term of a youth who has completed 20 years of the sentence, and treat as discretionary a sentence of imprisonment for life. 2.) Require the Bureau of Prisons to separately designate youth correctional facilities, minimize contact between youth and other offenders, and establish programs regarding youth education, skills training, reentry, and mental and emotional health. 3.) Promote reentry and reintegration into the community, including by providing an early release option for youth offenders who complete one half or more of their prison term and meet certain criteria; authorizing home confinement for a longer period of time; limiting the maximum prison term for technical violations of probation; establishing pilot programs for mentorship, government service, and animal service; and establishing pilot programs for diversion of high-risk, victimized, and primary caretaker youth. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Jim Jordan (OH) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

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