[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 194 (Thursday, October 6, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 69379-69381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24368]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 194 / Thursday, October 6, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 69379]]


                Proclamation 9512 of September 30, 2016

                
National Youth Justice Awareness Month, 2016

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                The essential promise that we make to our young 
                people--that where they start must not determine how 
                far they can go--is part of what makes America 
                exceptional. It is our shared responsibility to ensure 
                all children are given a fair shot at life, including a 
                quality education and equal opportunities to pursue 
                their dreams. Too often in America, young people are 
                not afforded a second chance after having made a 
                mistake or poor decision--the kind of chance some of 
                their peers receive under more forgiving environments. 
                Many of these young people lack institutional or family 
                support and live in distressed communities. Others may 
                have experienced trauma and violence or may struggle 
                with disabilities, mental health issues, or substance 
                use disorders. As a society, we must strive to reach 
                these children earlier in life and modernize our 
                juvenile and criminal justice systems to hold youth 
                accountable for their actions without consigning them 
                to a life on the margins. During National Youth Justice 
                Awareness Month, we reaffirm our commitment to helping 
                children of every background become successful and 
                engaged citizens.

                While the number of juvenile arrests have fallen 
                sharply over the past decade, roughly 1 million 
                juvenile arrests were made in 2014. An overwhelming 
                majority of these arrests were for non-violent crimes, 
                and nearly three-quarters of those arrested were male. 
                Children of color, particularly black and Hispanic 
                males and Native American youth, continue to be 
                overrepresented across all levels of the juvenile 
                justice system. Unfortunately, far too many youth 
                become involved with the adult criminal justice system 
                each year--including in several States where 17-year-
                olds are prosecuted as adults regardless of their 
                crime, and two where 16-year-olds are as well. Children 
                in the adult system have less access to rehabilitative 
                services and often face higher recidivism and suicide 
                rates. Some States have recently raised the age so that 
                16- and 17-year-olds are not unnecessarily tried in 
                adult courts, and many are reforming sentencing laws 
                and expanding access to age-appropriate transition 
                services upon reentry.

                Even for those youth who were never convicted or 
                otherwise found guilty, simply having had contact with 
                our justice system can lead to lifelong barriers and an 
                increased likelihood of ending up in a cycle of 
                incarceration. To help break this cycle, my 
                Administration increased funding for expunging juvenile 
                records and took steps to ensure young people in 
                juvenile and adult justice facilities can receive Pell 
                Grants to pursue a quality education. The White House 
                launched the Fair Chance Pledge to highlight employers 
                and institutions of higher education that have 
                committed to reducing barriers that justice-involved 
                youth often face in accessing employment, training, and 
                education. To build on these efforts, the Congress must 
                reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
                Prevention Act (JJDPA) to increase protections for 
                youth and limit the number of minors held in adult 
                jails and prisons. Reauthorizing the JJDPA will promote 
                evidence-based practices, quality education, and 
                trauma-informed care for incarcerated youth, while 
                reducing punishments for things such as breaking curfew 
                and truancy.

[[Page 69380]]

                We have also seen too many of our youth held in 
                solitary confinement while incarcerated, which can lead 
                to devastating, long-term psychological consequences. 
                Earlier this year, my Administration took steps to 
                implement reforms that include banning this harmful 
                practice for juveniles under the custody of the Federal 
                Bureau of Prisons. We must ensure that young people 
                have quality legal representation throughout every 
                stage of the legal process as well as age-appropriate 
                and rehabilitative sentencing and placements. The 
                financial costs of the juvenile court system can be 
                debilitating and can unfairly penalize children from 
                poor families--by reducing the fees and fines imposed 
                on youth, we can avoid pushing families into debt and 
                decrease this disproportionate burden.

                To meet these goals, we must engage young people before 
                they find themselves locked into a path from which they 
                cannot escape. The Departments of Justice and Education 
                created the Supportive School Discipline Initiative to 
                incentivize positive school climates and rethink 
                discipline policies to foster safer and more supportive 
                learning environments. They are also working to assist 
                States, schools, and law enforcement partners in 
                assessing the proper role of school resource officers 
                and campus law enforcement professionals. The 
                Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services 
                released a joint policy statement against the use of 
                suspension and expulsion in preschool settings--which 
                disproportionately affect children of color. As part of 
                the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
                Prevention's Smart on Juvenile Justice initiative, we 
                are providing services such as job training and 
                substance use disorder treatment and counseling for 
                youth in juvenile facilities, and we are expanding the 
                use of effective community-based alternatives to youth 
                detention. We are also screening youth for exposure to 
                trauma that can put them at greater risk of entering 
                the juvenile justice system. And through the My 
                Brother's Keeper initiative, we are working to address 
                persistent opportunity gaps and ensure all young people 
                can reach their full potential--including by helping 
                them get a healthy start in life, enter school ready to 
                learn, and successfully enter the workforce.

                When we invest in our children and redirect young 
                people who have made misguided decisions, we can reduce 
                our over-reliance on the juvenile and criminal justice 
                systems and build stronger pathways to opportunity. In 
                addition, for every dollar we put into high-quality 
                early childhood education, we save at least twice that 
                down the road in reduced crime. That is why my 
                Administration has sought to expand high-quality early 
                education by increasing funding for programs like Head 
                Start and investing in preschool, child care, and 
                evidence-based home visiting. Investing in our 
                communities and our kids makes sense, and if we 
                recognize that every child deserves to remain connected 
                to their families and communities, we can ensure youth 
                who come in contact with the law can have a chance at a 
                brighter future.

                This month, we come together to ensure all young people 
                are supported, nurtured, and provided an opportunity to 
                succeed. We must make sure youth in every community and 
                from every walk of life can be known for more than 
                their worst mistakes. With enhanced possibilities, a 
                sense of optimism, and an open mind, they can all 
                thrive and live up to the full measure of their 
                promise.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim October 2016 as 
                National Youth Justice Awareness Month. I call upon all 
                Americans to observe this month by taking action to 
                support our youth and by participating in appropriate 
                ceremonies, activities, and programs in their 
                communities.

[[Page 69381]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirtieth day of September, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and forty-first.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2016-24368
Filed 10-5-16; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F7-P