This past week, Rep. Bobby Scott (Virginia) introduced the Youth Justice Act of 2015 a bill that mirrors the Senate bill to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA).  But, Rep. Scott’s proposal creatively takes the best parts of the prior Youth PROMISE act that he has championed for several sessions and adds it to JJDPA reauthorization. The PROMISE Act component promises to invest in youth development efforts in higher crime areas and expand positive opportunities for youth in those areas/communities.

Funding will remain an issue, as the House essentially “zeroed” out federal JJ funding, while the relevant Senate Appropriations Committee has since put funds “back in”, albeit not in the way that many advocates are supporting.  Thus will begin the process of coming to some agreement not only on the language of the bill(s) but on funding levels as well.

Hang on to the roller coaster, but let’s all hope that this gets done, that the PROMISE components are added, and that there is sufficient fiscal support to achieve the goals of the bills.  Is that too much to hope for?    by Jim Moeser