Funding Youth Violence Programs

This hearing discussed proposed legislation authorizing funds for programs of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. Opening statements by senators Fred Thompson, Joseph R. Biden, Herbert Kohl, Orrin G. Hatch, Charles E. Grassley, and Alan K. Simpson introduced the issue. Presentations involved two panels. The first consisted of Steve A. Carson, Chief of Police, LaFollette, TN; Byron Oedekoven, Sheriff, Campbell County, WY; Ray Luick, Administrative Officer, Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance, Madison, WI; and William R. Woodward, Director, Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado Department of Public Safety, Denver, CO. The second included S. Camille Anthony, Executive Director, Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, Salt Lake City, UT; Jerry Regier, Director, Oklahoma Department of Juvenile Justice, Oklahoma City, OK; Patricia West, Director, Virginia Department of Youth and Family Services, Richmond, VA; Marion Kelly, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services; and Robert G. Schwartz, Chairman, Juvenile Justice Committee, American Bar Association, Philadelphia, PA. An appendix presents questions to witnesses on both panels from the Committee on the Judiciary and responses from the panelists. Additional submissions include letters to Senator Thompson from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice and from the Division of Criminal Justice, Colorado Department of Public Safety; a biography of Jerry Paul Regier; and prepared statements from Gary B. Melton for the American Psychological Association; Lavonda Taylor for the Coalition for Juvenile Justice; and Barry Krisbert, President, National Council on Crime and Delinquency. (SM)