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This Wednesday, the Senate
Appropriations Committee subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science
is expected to approve legislation that fails to adequately support juvenile
justice programs. By maintaining level funding for FY2010, programs serving
at-risk youth and juvenile offenders are once again faced to do more with less.
Since FY2002, juvenile justice funding has decreased by 56 percent.
The time to act is now! Call your Representatives at
1-866-277-7617
and ask them to help keep kids safe in their homes and communities by restoring
juvenile justice funding.
If the legislation is approved, the full Senate Appropriations committee could
vote on these vital programs before the week is out. They must hear from
advocates TODAY about the importance of these programs in your community.
Your calls are needed to the subcommittee members and ask that they:
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Restore funding for Title II Formula
grants to the FY2002 level of $89 million;
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Restore the Title V program to its
FY2002 level of $95 million, with no set-asides/earmarks;
and
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Restore funding for Juvenile
Accountability Block Grant at the FY2002 level of $250
million.
These programs together promote the
prevention of juvenile delinquency and provide the appropriate
community-based treatment when youth are in trouble.
Each year more than 2.2 million youth are arrested, with 1.7 million
of these referred to juvenile detention facilities. On any given
night, 100,000 youth are resting within juvenile detention
facilities, and 70 percent of this level is for non-violent
offenses. For too long, public policy leaders have failed to
prioritize initiatives for keeping youth safe and away from negative
influences. Congressional appropriators must pay greater attention
to the needs of this population.
All Senators should be aware of this situation, and members of the
Appropriations subcommittee must be contacted today. A full
committee listing is available
here.
Call them today at 1-866-277-7617 and ask for a restoration of
juvenile justice supports.
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