Letter: Bill would deter youthful violence
Prison cell. Credit: AFP / Getty Images
Your editorial, "Prison reforms good for New York" [March 14], shows a welcome trend toward more restorative justice programs, especially for youthful offenders.
Increasing the range of proven alternatives to our nation's mass incarceration of over 2 million human beings, many for non-violent crimes, is long overdue. It saves money and young lives.
Bipartisan federal legislation is being introduced this spring called the Youth PROMISE Act -- Youth Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and Education Act. If passed, it would implement and fund evidence-based practices related to juvenile justice and criminal gang activity, including violence prevention, drug treatment and support programs overseen by state-level PROMISE advisory panels.
This legislation is endorsed by the National Conference of Mayors and many other community organizations. Let's hope that Congress will pass this common-sense legislation.
Thomas Lyon, Mount Sinai
Editor's note: The writer is a team leader for the Peace Alliance Action Team of Long Island, which advocates against crime and violence.
