Political Quotes

“I want to take particular note today of a small item in the Department of Justice budget--the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. This agency, which began in 1974 with a focus on noncriminal juvenile offenders and four programs, now addresses a full range of juvenile issues, from violent juvenile crime to the victimization of children through child abuse and neglect. The office administers 13 programs under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act and the Victims of Child Abuse Act. The budget which totals a modest $162 million, returns huge dividends for America's children and families. We are at a critical time in the history of our juvenile justice system. It is facing a surge in violent crime and spiraling increase in reports of child abuse and neglect. It is under attack as not being effective in dealing with these problems. America is frightened of crime and violence, and more specifically, of violent crime committed by youth. Indeed, to a certain degree, America is becoming frightened of many of its youth. Is there good reason for this fear? In looking at recent arrest data for violent offenders, the greatest increase is in the category of offenders under the age of 15. As to weapons offenses, there was a 23.2 percent increase for offenders under the age of 15, as opposed to a 4.8 percent increase for offenders over 18.”