[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 227 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 227

  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Urban Crimes Awareness 
                                 Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 13, 2010

Mr. Towns (for himself, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Sires, 
 and Ms. Norton) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
             was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Urban Crimes Awareness 
                                 Week.

Whereas National Urban Crimes Awareness Week will be celebrated the second week 
        in February 2010;
Whereas 48,430 violent crimes occurred in New York City in 2008, compared to 
        28,941 in non-New York City counties;
Whereas an estimated 1,382,012 violent crimes occurred nationwide in 2008;
Whereas over 6,000,000 people were victims of crime in 2008;
Whereas according to the 2008 National Crime Victimization Survey, African-
        Americans experienced higher rates than Whites of every violent crime 
        except simple assault;
Whereas the act of violence or the crime causes pain and disruption that can 
        have lasting effects;
Whereas statistics show that once an individual has experienced, witnessed, or 
        lived with violence, their likelihood of being victimized again, or 
        becoming a perpetrator themselves increases significantly;
Whereas research has shown that exposure to violence has damaging consequences 
        for the physical and mental health of youth and their long-term 
        functioning and well-being as adults;
Whereas data suggests that more than 60 percent of the Nation's youth have been 
        exposed to violence within the past year;
Whereas studies have shown that increased rates of violence and unemployment are 
        directly correlated;
Whereas in September 2009, 133 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates above 
        the national average;
Whereas the rate of unemployment for minorities such as Black and Latino groups 
        is nearly 20 percent;
Whereas the number of crimes can be reduced if community members are taught 
        crime prevention techniques and become more involved in crime prevention 
        activities;
Whereas neighborhood crime contributes to community neglect and disintegration; 
        and
Whereas numerous studies demonstrate the evidence-based prevention and 
        intervention programs can reduce delinquency and serious juvenile crime: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) it is the sense of Congress that--
                    (A) National Urban Crimes Awareness Week provides a 
                special opportunity to educate the people of the United 
                States about urban violence and to take steps to 
                encourage the prevention of urban violence, provide 
                assistance, and support to crime victims;
                    (B) it is appropriate to properly acknowledge the 
                more than 209,000 men and women who have been victims 
                of urban violence in the United States each year, and 
                to commend the efforts of survivors, volunteers, and 
                professionals who work to prevent urban violence;
                    (C) national and community organizations and 
                private sector supporters should be recognized and 
                applauded for their work in promoting awareness about 
                urban violent crimes, providing information and 
                treatment to victims, families, and survivors, and 
                increasing the number of successful prosecutions of its 
                perpetrators;
                    (D) public safety, law enforcement, and health 
                professionals should be recognized and applauded for 
                their hard work and innovative strategies to increase 
                the percentage of violent urban crime cases that result 
                in the prosecution and incarceration of the offenders; 
                and
                    (E) victim advocates and criminal justice 
                professionals should be recognized, applauded, and 
                encouraged for their work to establish effective 
                programs as alternatives to incarceration, re-entry 
                interventions for offenders who are completing 
                sentences, and rehabilitation programs for offenders 
                and victims alike; and
            (2) Congress--
                    (A) strongly recommends national and community 
                organizations, businesses in the private sector, 
                colleges and universities, and the media to promote 
                through education and prevention measures, awareness of 
                violent urban crimes and strategies to decrease the 
                incidence of these crimes; and
                    (B) supports the goals and ideals of National Urban 
                Crimes Awareness Week.
                                 <all>