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<br />May 26. 2009
<br />Ayes: Heretick, Psi mas, Randall, Smith, Whitehurst, Holley
<br />Nays: None
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<br />09 - 293 - Adoption of a resolution to support Congressional bills H.R. 1064 and S. 435,
<br />the Youth Prison Reduction through Opportunity, Mentoring, Intervention, Support and
<br />Education Act (Youth PROMISE Act) to address youth gang and crime challenges.
<br />Vision Principals: Thriving Neighborhoods and a Sense of Community, Pride of Past,
<br />Promise of Future.
<br />
<br />Background
<br />. On Friday, February 13, 2009, Congressmen Robert "Bobby" Scott and Mike
<br />Castle re-introduced the Youth Prison Reduction through Opportunity, Mentoring,
<br />Intervention, Support and Education Act (the Youth PROMISE Act). The companion
<br />legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Robert Casey and Olympia
<br />Snowe.
<br />. The Youth PROMISE Act implements the best policy recommendations from
<br />crime policy makers, researchers, practitioners, analysts, and law enforcement officials
<br />from across the political spectrum concerning evidence - and research-based strategies
<br />to reduce gang violence and crime.
<br />. Under the Youth PROMISE Act, communities facing the greatest youth-gang
<br />and crime challenges will each form a local council called a Promise Coordinating
<br />Council (PCC). The PCC will include representatives from law enforcement, court
<br />services, schools, social service organizations, health and mental health providers and
<br />community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations.
<br />. The PCC will then develop a comprehensive plan for implementing evidence-
<br />based prevention and intervention strategies. These strategies will target young people
<br />who are at-risk of becoming involved, or who are already involved in, gangs or the
<br />criminal justice system to redirect them toward productive and law-abiding alternatives.
<br />. The bill also provides for law enforcement support through "Youth Oriented
<br />Policing Services" (YOPS), and a victimlwitness assistance program.
<br />. Furthermore, the bill contains provisions to provide additional grants to high
<br />intensity gang localities to reduce or alleviate the effects of gang violence, and grants to
<br />localities to fund police and community collaborative programs to provide crime
<br />prevention, research and intervention services designed to prevent crime by At-Risk
<br />youth and youth- gang members.
<br />
<br />Discussion:
<br />. In 2007 the City of Portsmouth's Public Schools had an Average Daily
<br />Membership (ADM) of 14,819 students. Of that number 56% (8,025 students) were
<br />deemed At-Risk.
<br />. Over the past three years the City of Portsmouth has witnessed a rise in youth-
<br />gang presence and criminal activity resulting in an increase in murders, robberies,
<br />burglaries, drug trafficking and other related gang crimes.
<br />. Due to the rise of youth-gang criminal activity, in December of 2006,
<br />Portsmouth City Council authorized the Portsmouth Police Department to establish a
<br />Gang Task Force.
<br />. Since it's inception, the Gang Task Force has diligently worked to intercept, and
<br />eradicate gangs, as well as work with community, civic, faith based organizations,
<br />school groups and other government units to educate our youth on the perils of joining
<br />gangs.
<br />
<br />Staff Recommends:
<br />. Adoption of a resolution supporting the Youth PROMISE Act.
<br />. If Congress passes this Act and the President signs it into law, it could provide
<br />sorely needed resources to the City of Portsmouth's Gang Task Force to help stem the
<br />tide of youth-gang participation and related criminal activity.
<br />. Vision Principals:
<br />./ Thriving Neighborhoods and a Sense of Community
<br />./ Pride of Past, Promise of Future
<br />
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