[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1434-E1435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REAUTHORIZATION OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT, 
                               H.R. 1818

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 15, 1997

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the re-
authorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, 
which would extend through fiscal year 2002 a valuable program treating 
juveniles in our society who are delinquent.
  The purposes of the Juvenile Justice and Prevention Act are clear: 
early intervention and prevention of delinquency for juveniles; as well 
as proper management of the juvenile once the child is in custody. We 
must not forget that these are children that we are dealing with. Youth 
that we must reach as soon as possible and we must protect to ensure we 
do not lose them in the system.
  I am glad to see that this bill is not another get tough on kids' 
bill as we saw earlier this session. H.R. 3, the Juvenile Crime Control 
Act of 1997 provided no balance of prevention and accountability to 
reduce the number of violent youth. H.R. 3 was simply in response to 
public misperception that all juvenile crime is escalating out of 
control when in actuality this is not so. The level of juvenile crime, 
including violent crime has actually declined over the past 20 years 
with one exception: juvenile homicides committed with handguns. It is 
important to note that juvenile homicide represents only one tenth of 1 
percent of all juvenile offenses. In determining how best to respond to 
juvenile crime, we cannot simply respond to a small percentage of 
juvenile crimes that make the headlines, we must continue to include a 
proper balance of prevention and accountability for all juveniles who 
are delinquent.
  I am happy to see that the four core mandates of the JJDPA will be 
retained in this bill. I am particularly glad to see that this bill 
will continue to address sight and sound separation as well as 
prevention efforts to reduce the disproportionate number of minorities 
that come in contact with the juvenile justice system.
  Once a juvenile has been determined delinquent, we must make sure 
that the juveniles' first contact with the justice system does not 
shatter these children. We must make an effort to ensure the majority 
of juveniles who come in contact with the justice system are properly 
handled. H.R. 1818 in retaining sight and sound separation, continues 
to do this while safely adding more flexibility for the States 
complying with this requirement.
  In my home State of Hawaii, status offenders comprised one-third of 
all juveniles arrested in 1994. These children need our help and must 
be exposed to community-based programs where they can receive the 
assistance they require. They should not be treated as disobedient 
minors, many if not most of these status offenders are fleeing physical 
or sexual abuse. H.R. 1818 not only retains the core requirement of 
deinstitutionalization of status offenders but continues funding for 
runaways and homeless under the newly created State block grants.

[[Page E1435]]

  While Hawaii prides itself as a multicultural State, Samoans and 
Native Hawaiians continue to be overrepresented in our juvenile's 
system. Hawaiians and part-Hawaiians represent only 31 percent of the 
population across the State, while accounting for 35 percent of 
juvenile arrests and 53 percent of juveniles in the Hawaii Youth 
Correctional Facility. By strengthening and clarifying the 
disproportionate minority confinement core requirement, states may 
continue to take the necessary steps to properly address this problem.

  I am glad to see that H.R. 1818 continues to provide funding to the 
programs that have proven their effectiveness in reducing juvenile 
crime. Programs such as mentoring, truancy prevention, recreation, job 
training, and drug rehabilitation to name a few will be streamlined 
into one block grant.
  Having said that, I must express some concern over the prevention 
block grant formula. While it will streamline the discretionary grants 
in the JJDPA, we also must make sure it received adequate funding. 
Historically, block grants end up receiving less money once 
consolidated than the original program before consolidation. These 
discretionary grants go to the people on the front lines of juvenile 
justice, working day to day and reaching out to these children who need 
their help. We must make sure they are not short-changed.
  I am glad to see bipartisan agreement that we must pass a strong 
comprehensive bill that will ensure that we take a balanced approach to 
juvenile crime. The passage of H.R. 1818 will ensure we have proper 
prevention to augment the purely punitive legislation passed earlier 
this year.

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