DeLauro Visits Local Juvenile Justice and Treatment Centers

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) visited the New Haven Family Support Center (FSC) and Youth Center for Assessment Respite and Enrichment (CARE) today to call attention to the need to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.

Research estimates that as many as 200,000 youths have their cases processed in adult criminal court each year, and that on any given day, there are nearly 10,000 youths under the age of 18 in adult jails and prisons. The FSC and Youth CARE programs work to reduce these numbers through intervention and treatments. The FSC offers a number of services to juvenile offenders, including crisis intervention services coupled with an array of interventions, treatment, and linkages to other appropriate programs with the goal of diverting them from the court system.

The Youth CARE program intervenes and diverts young men ages 16 and 17 away from further involvement in the justice system though stabilization programs and case management and assessment in a secure 24-hour facility. CARE also coordinates with the youth's families and community-based services to provide a comprehensive program.

Congresswoman DeLauro said, "Centers like FSC and CARE are saving lives. These Centers work day in and day out to give these kids another chance to reach their fullest potential as members of society. We should support important facilities like these, here, in Connecticut, and all across America and reauthorize the 35-year-old Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the main federal legislation that affects youth in these programs and facilities."