On the recordNovember 21, 2019
I have worked in the area of criminal justice and juvenile justice for as many years as I have served in the United States Congress. Dealing with juveniles here in this country and giving them a pathway of opportunity to success has been my dream and goal. I intend to introduce the Omnibus Juvenile Justice Restoration and Uplift Act. There are 75 million juveniles, plus, in the United States since 2013. That number has grown. That means that one in four have the possibility of being in the juvenile delinquency system. That should not be tolerated. My bill will include adding more trained social workers; giving sensitivity training and special training to our law enforcement officers, who really want to be role models; to Ban the Box, so they do not have a lifetime of saying, as a juvenile I was arrested; ending solitary confinement throughout the entire United States for juveniles; alternative sentencing, so that old-fashioned juvenile detention jails can be closed; gang intervention, so that we can find a way for resolution and direction and another way for gang prevention, violence cessation, wrap-around services, closing all juvenile centers over a 10-year period, and finally, conflict resolution. I encourage my colleagues to join me in introducing this legislation. Our children are our priority. ____________________
