YOUTH PROMISE ACT
H.R. 3846
The Youth Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and Education (Youth PROMISE) Act
This bill implements the advice we heard over the last year from over 50 crime policy makers, researchers, practitioners analysts, and law enforcement officials from across the political spectrum concerning evidence- and research-based strategies to reduce gang violence and crime. Under the Youth PROMISE Act, communities facing the greatest youth gang and crime challenges will form a local council. This council will include representatives from law enforcement, court services, schools, social service, health and mental health providers, and community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations. The council will develop a comprehensive plan for implementing evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies. These strategies will be targeted at young people who are at-risk of becoming involved, or involved in, gangs or the criminal justice system to redirect them toward productive and law-abiding alternatives.
Background Information | Resolutions | Reports
Press | Editorials |Endorsement Letters
Lastest News
- 04.04.08 | Audio of Rep. Bobby Scott's and Sen. Joe Biden's briefing on "Reducing Violent Crime - International Perspectives"
- 03.20.08 | Rep. Scott to Host Teen Summit on Youth Violence at IC Norcom High School
- 02.26.08 | Audio of Rep. Scott's Media Roundtable on the Youth PROMISE Act
- Rep. Scott's Press Release
- Dear Colleague Letter
- One-Page Overview of H.R. 3846
- Text of H.R. 3846
- List of Cosponsors
- Bill Status File
- Letter from Organizations Supporting H.R. 3846
- Statistics/Charts on Incarceration
- National Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Coalition Letter Comparing Gang Bills Introduced in the 110th Congress
- Youth Law Center Letter Opposing H.R. 3547, the Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act
- Human Rights Watch Letter Supporting H.R. 3846, the Youth PROMISE Act and Opposing H.R. 3547, the Gang Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Act
- "Investing in Our Nation's Youth" - by Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott - Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Spring 2008 Newsletter
Resolutions In Favor Juvenile Prevention and Intervention Practices
- U.S. Conference of Mayors, 76th Annual Meeting, Support for Cradle to Prison Pipeline Initiative (Sponsored by the President of the Conference of Mayors, Mayor Doug Palmer of Trenton, NJ)
- U.S. Conference of Mayors, 76th Annual Meeting, Comprehensive Gang Abatement Legislation (Sponsored by Mayor Sheila Dixon of Baltimore, MD)
- Childrens Defense Fund: America's Cradle to Prison Pipeline Report
- Safer Streets: Cutting repeat crimes by juvenile offenders
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids - Potential for Change: Public Attitudes and Policy Preferences for Juvenile Justice Systems Reform Center for Children's Law and Policy
- Rehabilitation Versus Incarceration of Juvenile Offenders:
Public Preferences in Four Models for Change States
Models for Change - The Illinois Coalition for the Fair Sentencing of Children: Categorically Less Culpable - Children Sentenced to Life Without Possibility of Parole in Illinois
- Moving Toward A More Integrative Approach To Justice Reform - Open Society Institute
- The PEW Center on the States - One in 100: Behind Bars in America 2008
- Charles Hamilton Houston Institution for Race & Justice: No More Children Left Behind Bars
- And Justice for Some: Differential Treatment of Youth of Color in the Justice System - National Council on Crime and Delinquency
- The Economic Retrun on PCCD's Investment in Research-based Programs: A Cost-Benefit Assessment of Delingquency Prevention In Pennsylvania
- American Psychological Association - Disseminating Evidence-Based Practice For Children and Adolescents
- 09.12.08 | Turning Point in the Gang Crisis - The Nation
- 07.25.08 | Chicago: Murder rate sparks political spats - The Washington Times
- 07.16.08 | Youth Empowered to Find their Voice, Push for Better Future - The Christian Post
- 07.13.08 | Hard to tell real gangs from mere wannabes - The San Diego Union-Tribune
- 07.11.08 | In the inner city, a summer job can be a lifesaver - The Providence Journal (Providence, RI)
- 04.23.08 | Inmate Count in U.S. Dwarfs Other Nations' - The New York Times
- 03.28.08 | Congressman Bobby Scott Hosts "Teen Summit On Violence" In An Effort to Promote The Youth PROMISE Act - EdNews.org
- 03.25.08 | Congressman Bobby Scott hosts teen crime and violence summit - WAVY-TV10 - Hampton Roads
- 03.20.08 | Small Businesses Offer Alternatives to Gang Life - The New York Times
- 03.10.08 | Police Chief: District's anti-gang laws ineffective - DC Examiner
- 12.21.07 | Building Boom - Daily Press (Newport News, VA)
- 12.07.07 | Experts on youth violence: Intervene early or pay dearly later - CNN.com
- 11.20.07 | The Gang Bill - EbonyJet Article
- 09.22.07 | Gang Crimes Have Fallen in Fairfax - The Washington Post
- 07.29.08 | Fight the Roots - Toronto Star Editorial
- 07.24.08 | Don't need cape to be a crusader - The Seattle Times
- 05.04.08 | Blocking the Transmission of Violence - The New York Times
- 04.15.08 | Two Separate Societies: One in Prison, One Not - The Washington Post
- 03.20.08 | Cutting the Prison Rate Safely - The Washington Post
- 03.10.08 | Prison Nation - New York Times Editorial
- 03.03.08 | Cold-blooded Costs - New Orleans City Business
- 02.29.08 | Prisons vs. Colleges - Inside Higher Ed
- 01.31.08 | Breaking the School-to-Prison Pipeline - AlterNet
- 11.28.07 | Prevent, or build - Roanoke Times Editorial (Roanoke, VA)
- 11.27.07 | Gangbuster - Daily Press Editorial (Newport News, VA)
- 11.15.07 | Congress must target roots of gangs - Pasadena Star News (Pasadena, CA)
- 10.30.07 | Rep. Scott's blueprint can save young people - Virginian-Pilot Editorial (Norfolk, VA)
- 10.15.07 | Think Prevention First - Baltimore Sun Editorial (Baltimore, MD)
- 07.19.07 | The Wrong Approach to Gangs - New York Times Editorial
- Campaign for Youth Justice
- Fight Crime: Invest in Kids
- National Juvenile Justice Network
- Children's Defense Fund
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
- Coalition for Juvenile Justice
- The Sentencing Project
- Voices for America's Children
- American Psychological Association
- American Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- African American Ministers in Action
- Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race & Justice
- Ohio Supports the Youth PROMISE Act
- California Supports the Youth PROMISE Act
- National Council of La Raza
- Michigan After-School Partnership
- Penal Reform International
- Justice Policy Institute
- Child Welfare League of America
- pre[k]now
- National PTA
- American Civil Liberties Union
- The Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project (STOP)
- California Public Defenders Association
- Richmond Peace Education Center
- Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice
- Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine
