Friday, May 14^th

Attorney General Holder Delivers Remarks at the California Cities Gang Prevention Network

Thank you, Jack [Calhoun]. I appreciate your kind words, and I'm grateful for your outstanding leadership. Your commitment to the success of this network - and to our nation's young people - is clear. Not only have you delayed your retirement; you've also agreed to a demanding travel schedule that takes you across the country, and all around this state, every month. Your work is making a difference here in California. And your guidance is helping today's Justice Department meet its obligations to combat crime, to protect the safety of our communities, and to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to improve their lives and fulfill their potential.

I'm here today to discuss the work, and the responsibilities, that we share. Responsibilities to ourselves, to each other, to our communities, and to the alarming number of children and young people who have been victims of, perpetrators of, and witnesses to gang violence. Read More

Back to top

McDonnell Starts Effort to Steer Ex-Inmates From Crime

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell on Tuesday began a broad effort to aid inmates' return to society and cut the number of offenders returning to prison shortly after their release.

McDonnell announced the creation of the Virginia Prisoner and Juvenile Offender Re-Entry Council, which will accompany a set of tweaks to state law passed this year by the General Assembly.

One new law will force inmates in work programs to contribute part of their pay toward their fines. The other will create "immediate sanction probation programs" aimed at keeping nonviolent probation violators from clogging the prison system. Read More

Back to top

The Decline in Youth Crime

Are kids today committing fewer crimes? There's so little demand for juvenile detentions anymore the state is considering closing one of its two boys' schools. A workgroup discussing the possibility met for the first time last week. While many suspect that juvenile crime is declining, it might not be happening as dramatically as the arrest rates suggest.

In the past decade, according to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, the number of boys being arrested in the state has declined 22 percent. Between 2001 and 2008, the number of boys incarcerated in detention facilities dropped 35 percent. With less money coming from the counties that place kids at the facilities, the Division of Juvenile Corrections is running into financial trouble. DOC predicts a $25 million deficit in the division's budget in the next two years. Read More

Back to top

The Right Strategies to Bring Down Crime

Operation: Safe Community is living up to its name, and its significant progress calls on us to remain committed to its full implementation.

In November 2006, hundreds of community leaders came together at a crime summit, which resulted in development the following year of the Operation: Safe Community plan. This 15-step, research-based, strategic plan, spearheaded by the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, is a comprehensive road map leading the way to a safer community. And it is steering us in the right direction.

The number of Part 1 crimes in Memphis -- those that are reported to the FBI, including murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and auto theft -- declined by 16 percent between 2006 and 2009. And Memphis has experienced a 32.4 percent decrease in Part 1 crimes reported between Jan. 1 and March 31 this year, compared with the same three-month period in 2006. Read More

Back to top

Juvenile offenders need special programs

Throwing juvenile offenders into detention centers is not always the best - or least expensive - way to curb recidivism or correct the behavior.

That's the message the Ogle County Juvenile Justice Council stressed to a packed room Tuesday at Focus House in Rochelle. The council was giving a presentation on its ongoing effort to create an effective juvenile justice plan for the county.

Creating alternative programs to help young offenders before bad behavior really sets in will lead to a decrease in crime, and help youths become productive members of society, said Ogle County State's Attorney Ben Roe, chairman of the council.

"It really is about a shift in perception and focus about what works in the juvenile justice system arena," Roe said. "It's about being smart on crime and not simply just tough on crime." Read More

Back to top