PA puts juvenile justice programs on the chopping block

A budget proposal in Harrisburg would slash funding for juvenile justice programs.

A budget proposal in Harrisburg would slash funding for juvenile justice programs.

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[audio: 090511tmjuvenile.mp3]

Senate Bill 850, which was approved in a party line vote, would cut 10 million dollars from programs such as Big Brothers, Big Sisters and even victims of juvenile crime. Robert Schwartz is Executive Director of the Juvenile Law Center in Philadelphia. He says the cuts would not be in the best interest of the state or taxpayers.

Schwartz: Pennsylvania has for several years invested in evidence-based programs because they are effective in numerous ways. This would be a blow to Pennsylvania’s efforts to be smart about the way it does delinquency prevention.

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency Head Walter Phillips says eliminating money for the programs will give kids fewer options, for staying out of trouble. The bill is now being reviewed by the house appropriations committee.