Rep. George Miller (D-CA) tells BI staff that JJDPA is a "priority"

CJNY Program Manager Christina Gomez, BI Law and Policy Analyst Laura John Ridolfi, Rep. George Miller and BI Executive Director James Bell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 8, 2010
Press Contact: Shadi Rahimi, cell: (415) 321-4100 x103, srahimi@burnsinstitute.org

CONCORD, CA – Rep. George Miller (D-CA) met today with representatives of the W. Haywood Burns Institute (BI) including Executive Director James Bell, and stated during a conversation that reauthorizing the Juvenile Justice And Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) is a “priority.”

“We will get to work; we will get this done,” Rep. Miller said after an engaging conversation with BI staff during which he also asked about the organization’s success with juvenile justice reform.

On Dec.17, 2009, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed S. 678, which would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) - one of the major federal juvenile justice laws. The House has not yet taken significant action on the measure. Rep. Miller explained that health care reform has been at the forefront of House considerations. However, Rep. Miller added, the House Committee on Education and Labor, of which he is the chairman, is working with Rep. Robert "Bobby" Scott (D - VA) on juvenile justice legislation.

BI staff discussed the importance of reauthorizing and strengthening the JJDPA including:

• Strengthening the Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) core protection by requiring States take concrete steps to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system
  
• Allowing certain States to continue to place youth convicted in adult court in juvenile facilities rather than adult prisons without jeopardizing federal funding;
  
• Preventing youth who commit status offenses (truant, runaway or violate curfew) from being locked in secure detention;
  
• Providing safe and humane conditions of confinement for youth in state and/or local custody by restricting use of JJDPA funds for dangerous practices and encouraging States to promote adoption of best practices and standards.
  

Rep. Miller also inquired about the BI model of using data to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in local juvenile justice systems and the overall benefits to jurisdictions utilizing and strategizing around alternatives to secure detention.

“Community alternatives to secure detention are better for communities and public safety; they are more effective, youth recidivate less and the costs are significantly less than secure lock-up,” said Laura John Ridolfi, BI Law and Policy Analyst.  

For more information on the JJDPA: http://act4jj.org/

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The W. Haywood Burns Institute (BI) is a San Francisco-based national juvenile justice nonprofit that has worked in more than 40 counties to reduce racial and ethnic disparities and supports a network of 140 juvenile justice organizations across the country. http://www.burnsinstitute.org.