Bonamici Applauds House Passage of Bill to Improve Juvenile Justice System
Press Release
Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) applauded the passage of a bipartisan bill to improve and support the juvenile justice system. The Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act helps state and local leaders better serve at-risk youth and juvenile offenders and gives them flexibility to respond to the needs of the community.
"Families and communities across the country deserve a juvenile justice system that reduces recidivism and makes the safety of young people a priority," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "This bill takes important steps to provide young adults, families, and communities with tools to help prevent youth from entering the justice system in the first place. And I'm also pleased that the bill takes important steps to help offenders reintegrate into their communities with the skills they need to be successful."
Bonamici--a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce--spoke in favor of the bill when it passed the Committee last week and highlighted a provision modeled after a successful Oregon practice that keep juveniles out of adult facilities.
Congresswoman Bonamici continued, "The Oregon Youth Authority has been a leader in using evidence-based practices to help youthful offenders while in the justice system and as they reintegrate into their families and communities after serving their time. The state recognizes that many young people are overwhelmed and do not have the skills to manage their stress, frustration, and anger, which can sometimes lead to additional disciplinary issues after they are in custody. When juveniles are housed in appropriate facilities, rather than being moved to adult facilities partway through their sentence, they are more likely to succeed--and stay out of prison--when they finish their sentence."
Today the House overwhelmingly passed the Supporting Youth Opportunity and Preventing Delinquency Act; the bill now heads to the Senate.
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