Congress Looks to Slash Juvenile Justice Programs

Fifteen years ago as violent crime soared law makers warned America about young super predators. Juvenile offenders who where so violent that they needed to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Apparently, juveniles are no longer a threat to the peace and well being of America's towns and neighborhoods. Congress is on the cusp of eliminating most federal funding for juvenile justice programs.

A bill, approved by the House Appropriations Committee reduces spending by $3 billion from 2011 fiscal year levels, reported Youth Today. Juvenile justice demonstration grants, Juvenile Accountability Block Grants and Title V Local Delinquency Prevention Grants received no funding in the bill. In 2010, the last year Congress actually passed an appropriations package, those three funding streams totaled $231 million.

Congressman Frank Wolf (R-Va.), made it clear that his subcommittee did not rate funds related to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act among the most effective uses of dollars at the Office of Justice Programs, according to Youth Today.

How about the declining crime rates among youth and adults alike? America is as safe today as it has been in half-a-century. Turning ones back on that progress or taking it for granted sets up many communities for an onslaught of crime.

To read more: http://youthtoday.org/view_article.cfm?article_id=4914