Trustee Archive

CRIME »» CRIMES »» JUVENILE CRIME »» Dec 18, 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: H.R. 56 - 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 Committee on the Judiciary
Chairperson: Rep. Jim Jordan (OH)

  • I oppose reforming current juvenile crime policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA) .
  • 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 »» No issues were voted

  • 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.
Trustee Candidates

  • Representative
    If elected as a trustee, the campaign committee of Rep. Jim Jordan (OH)will be unconditionally awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting him to favorably consider passing H.R. 56 - RAISE Act of 2023.

  • National Gang Center
    If elected as a trustee, National Gang Center will be awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting these funds be used to address the causes of juvenile violence, prevent juvenile crime, and break the cycle of youth-crime recidivism.

    About: The National Gang Center (NGC) is a project jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The NGC program works to further the mission of DOJ by providing an array of information and resources on gangs for state, local, and tribal jurisdictions. NGC’s national leadership serves researchers, policymakers, direct service providers, criminal justice practitioners, and other community members through peer-to-peer information exchange and mentoring, training, and on- and off-site technical assistance. NGC activities contribute to reductions in gang-related crime and violence and gang activity by juveniles and adults.

Elected Trustee

  • No trustee votes received.
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Poll Opening Date December 18, 2023
Poll Closing Date December 24, 2023