[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 102 (Thursday, July 17, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1448-E1449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     JUVENILE CRIME CONTROL AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 15, 1997

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 1818, 
the Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention Act. This 
important bipartisan effort would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice 
Delinquency and Prevention Act of 1974 [Public Law 93-415]. H.R. 1818 
represents a balanced approach to reducing juvenile crime.
  The prevalence of violent crime among our Nation's youth is entirely 
too high. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, young people are 
committing violent crimes at a rate similar to 10 years ago--however, 
the violence has intensified and is causing more deaths. In fact, 
between 1991 and 1995, the number of juveniles arrested for violent 
crimes increased by 12 percent, yet violent crime arrests for all ages 
increased by 2.5 percent. And, between 1985 and 1994, the number of 
juveniles arrested for weapon violations, specifically related to 
increases in firearm usage in violent crimes, rose by 113 percent. 
Equally disturbing is the fact while African-Americans represent 12 
percent of the United States' population, African-American youth are 
nearly 28 percent of all juvenile arrests.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1818 focuses in reducing the number of children and 
youth who commit criminal acts of violence. As such, it ensures that 
juvenile crime prevention efforts are targeted at communities 
experiencing a disproportionate representation of minorities in the 
juvenile justice system. It is well documented that programs that 
provide: Treatment to victims of child abuse or neglect, mentoring,

[[Page E1449]]

peer counseling and teaching, job training and employment, and other 
such services are an essential investment in the effort to prevent 
juvenile delinquency.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Juvenile 
Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention Act. Vote ``yes'' for H.R. 
1818.

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