WEST VIRGINIA--Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney Seeks Juvenile Justice Reform
Apr 14th 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2010
Media Contact: Ted Eismeier
Cell: 315-335-9222, Office: 202-464-5350
E-mail: teismeier@fightcrime.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 14, 2010) -- Ohio County's top prosecutor traveled to Washington, D.C. today to ask Congress to help communities fight juvenile crime by investing in evidence-based interventions for youth offenders. Prosecuting Attorney Scott Smith testified before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies asking appropriators to increase funding for programs shown through research to cut recidivism and save money.
"Every year, thousands of juveniles will be arrested for serious crimes in our state, and there is no substitute for tough law enforcement when it comes to ensuring public safety," Prosecuting Attorney Smith said. "However, it's also clear that certain research-based interventions are an effective way to turn around young offenders, reducing repeat offenses and making our communities safer."
Research shows that the most effective interventions include parent and community involvement to counter delinquency and reduce crime. By promoting accountability and discipline with troubled kids as well as offering community resources, targeted interventions can substantially reduce the likelihood that juvenile offenders will go on to commit more crimes.
One such program, Functional Family Therapy, has been shown to cut rates of re-arrest in half by intervening with families to teach them how to better control their children's behavior. The research also found that Functional Family Therapy saves the public $32,000 for every youth treated.
The subcommittee has spending authority over programs funded through the Justice Department. In recent years, grant programs for juvenile justice interventions have lost funding. Prosecuting Attorney Smith asked appropriators to increase funding for effective juvenile justice interventions and restore major sources of funding to 2002 levels, before subsequent cuts. For the full appropriations recommendations, click here for the written testimony.
Smith is a member of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a national anti-crime organization of more than 5,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, and violence survivors, including 80 members from West Virginia alone.
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