Congressmen Scott & Jones to Co-Host Bipartisan Briefing on Cost-Effectiveness of Youth Violence and Intervention Strategies
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, (D-VA-3) and Congressman Walter B. Jones (R-NC-3) will co-host a bipartisan briefing entitled “Reduce Crime, Reduce Costs, and Improve Lives and Communities through Evidence-Based Prevention” on Monday, February 27, 2012. The event will be held in Room 2237 in the Rayburn House Office Building at 3:00 pm and is open to the Members of Congress and their staff, the public and the media.
Monday’s event will provide information on the cost-effectiveness of prevention and intervention policies that work effectively to reduce juvenile crime and gang violence. Studies show that crime reduction can best be accomplished by investing in research-based prevention and intervention programs targeted towards at-risk youth. These programs help end the criminal justice cycle by reaching the next generation of at-risk youth before they become involved in serious gang or other criminal activity. Investing in these programs saves money, because they cost the U.S. taxpayer less than the amount of money that would otherwise be spent on building and maintaining prisons and on welfare costs. Experts at the briefing will discuss the cost-effectiveness of these strategies compared to traditional approaches.
Confirmed speakers at the event include:
- Dr. Catherine Gallagher, Director, Cochrane Collaboration College for Policy & Associate Professor, Criminology, Law and Society at George Mason University;
- Pat Nolan, Vice President, Prison Fellowship;
- Gabriel Morgan, Sheriff, City of Newport News, Virginia; and
- Tracy Velázquez, Executive Director, Justice Policy Institute.
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“Dear Colleague” letter sent by Congressmen Scott and Jones
Remarks from JPI Executive Director, Tracy Velázquez