[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
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

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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.
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,

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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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and

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of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
forty-first.
BARACK OBAMA