TAKE ACTION: Stop Harmful Anti-Youth Legislation

Harmful gang legislation is pending in Congress that places excessive emphasis on increasing sentences (including life without parole penalties for youth) and will disproportionately harm communities of color. Sen. Feinstein’s Gang Abatement and Prevention Act passed out of the Senate and a similar bill, H.R. 3547, has been introduced in the House by Representative Adam Schiff. The punitive approach that the Feinstein and Schiff bills take does not address the root causes of gang crime.

Representative Bobby Scott has, however, introduced a positive alternative. H.R. 3846, the Youth Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and Education Act (Youth PROMISE Act), takes an innovative approach to addressing the problem of gangs and crime. By investing resources in youth and local communities, this legislation prevents crime and redirects at-risk youth toward productive and law-abiding alternatives.

Please urge your elected representatives to oppose Representative Schiff’s H.R. 3547 and instead support the Youth PROMISE Act, H.R. 3846.

(republished from the Human Rights Watch website)