Mary Gay Scanlon: “Thank you for allowing me to speak in support of this amendment. My amendment would increase funding for juvenile…”

“Thank you for allowing me to speak in support of this amendment. My amendment would increase funding for juvenile justice programs authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The JJDPA, which was recently reauthorized under the leadership of my colleagues on the Education and Labor Committee, has been so successful, that 47 States and six U.S. territories voluntarily participate in its programs. The JJDPA provides Federal funds to the States to decrease the incidence of juvenile delinquency and invest funds in diversionary programs to break the school-to-prison pipeline. These programs have provided critical support to Pennsylvania's efforts to reform the juvenile justice system and advance evidence- based programs at the local level. Too often, our most vulnerable youth have been caught in a vicious cycle of poverty and oppression, which can land them in the juvenile justice system, but well-funded, thoughtful juvenile justice programs can divert youth away from the justice system, ensure fair and equitable treatment, and protect incarcerated youth while keeping our communities safe. In Pennsylvania, projects funded by the JJDPA have been used to train 425 officers in 67 counties in evidence-based, effective, and cutting- edge approaches to working with delinquent youth in ways that are equitable, fair, and targeted to their risks and needs.…”