gun violence: Man in short-sleeved pink shirt, mask speaks at outdoor podium surrounded by crowd wearing masks

New York City’s Public Advocate Unveils Proposal to End Gun Violence

NEW YORK — Jumaane Williams, New York City’s public advocate, announced his proposal for curbing gun violence in the five boroughs after a week of at least 64 shootings. Only 20 were reported for the same week in 2019. Williams unveiled his ideas in a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea on Friday. Putting into place CompStat, the New York Police Department’s statistical data tool and a new “Advance Peace” crisis management system were at the top of his list. He also called for changes to the police department’s responses right away but the timeline was unclear.

police: 2 lines of police facing right holding batons

Militarization of Police Must Be Changed to Guardian Training

I have been researching and teaching about crime and justice for more than 40 years. My work has focused on the importance of race and social class in understanding the issues that people face in these systems. Within this broad area of concern is the relationship between the police and communities of color, especially Black communities. The use and abuse of force has been a constant throughout the history of this relationship. This was on full display when a video was released of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25. Atrocities such as this one have been a regular occurrence in Black communities since there were organized police forces.

homeless shelter: Animation showing curly-headed boy with headphones

Washington State Young Adults Often End Up Homeless After Leaving Treatment

Speaking over breakfast at a homeless drop-in center a week after arriving at the shelter, Patrick described his situation as “futile.” In that environment, he said, you don’t have the freedom to pursue your dreams. “You’re not really living a life if you are living here,” he said.

It would be another year before he found an apartment through so-called rapid rehousing, which provides federally funded rental assistance for up to 12 months. In Washington state, thousands of children and young adults like Patrick experience homelessness soon after exiting psychiatric and substance use disorder treatment.

Abolition Park/Instagram

New York Progressive Groups Say Including Police in Events Can Counter Their Intent

UPDATE: The image above is from an Instagram video that has been taken down. Below is the updated link to news coverage of the same march.  Watch video here

NEW YORK — As soon as he sat down, 19-year-old Elijah Green knew he was going to be arrested. When he and several others blocked the eastbound lanes of traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge on July 15, they believed they were disrupting a pro-police march. Uniformed New York Police Department officers with riot helmets quickly mobilized to disperse the small cadre of seated protesters so the march could continue unimpeded.

telehealth: Doctor with a stethoscope on the computer laptop screen.

More Telehealth Could Be Among Policy, Practice Implications of COVID-19 Pandemic

In a remarkably short period of time, the COVID-19 pandemic has required us to change almost everything about how we live and work. It has also exposed significant fault lines in our understanding about, and delivery of services to, the most vulnerable in our communities. During this time, many of our systems have been challenged to handle complex crises and rapidly changing circumstances. Just as our health care systems have strained to meet acute medical needs, our education, justice, housing and child-serving systems are also navigating unprecedented challenges. Four Stoneleigh Foundation Fellows shared their preliminary observations on the impact COVID-19 is having on our communities’ young people in a virtual convening in spring.

teenage: Close-up shot of young woman in glasses writing notes with classmates studying in background.

Whatever Happened to the Teenage Shoplifter (and Vandal, Arsonist, Burglar, Joyrider)?

More than anything else, property crime defines traditional concepts of “the teenager.” Vandalism, shoplifting, burglary, joyriding, arson, petty theft … all senseless things “dumb kids” do that jeopardize their futures and immiserate everyone’s lives.The teenage shed-torcher, windshield smasher, petty klepto, spray-painter and thrill-seeker whose anti-social destruction defies decency and reason infuriates adults to our core. It is no wonder crime scholars immersed in that era disparage “teenage brains.” 

In 1978, the first year California released comprehensive crime numbers by age, more than 130,000 youths were arrested for felony and misdemeanor property offenses. Back then, youths under age 18 accounted for a shocking 43% of all property offense arrests. 

Now, that whole species of “teenagers” as we knew it seems to have vanished. Property crime arrests of Californians under age 18, 1978-2018

In 2018, California’s teenaged youth population ages 10-17 was 1.1 million larger than 40 years earlier, Yet, fewer than 10,000 youths were arrested for all felony and misdemeanor property offenses — a 95% decline in the rate of juvenile property arrests. Youths now account for just 8% of California’s property-crime arrests. 

The most astonishing drop is among the youngest.

restraints: Several male adults hold down someone in jeans.

NY Advocates Urge End to Restraints After Teen’s Death in Michigan

NEW YORK — Cornelius Fredericks, 16, was sitting at a table eating lunch when he was tackled by a staff member at Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Soon after he hit the ground, two other staff members ran over to assist. They started restraining Fredericks for throwing food. The teen remained restrained for 12 minutes. It would be the last minutes of his life.