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My hearing on youth gun violence will begin at approximately 10:00 am!
Watch the hearing live at PHLCouncil.com/watch or follow along below!
Watch the hearing live at PHLCouncil.com/watch or follow along below!
https://twitter.com/CouncilmemberJG/status/1646923407177441297
Last September, I spent several hours in the Emergency Room at Penn Presbyterian comforting Tiffany Fletcher’s family members.
Tiffany Fletcher worked at the Mill Creek Recreation Center. While on duty, she was tragically and senselessly caught in the crossfire between two rival groups of teenagers.
We hoped and prayed for good news, but Tiffany did not survive her injuries.
As heartbroken as I was that terrible day and continue to be, it is nothing compared to the unimaginable pain her family experiences each and every day – as do hundreds of families who have an empty seat at the dinner table.
Tiffany Fletcher’s killing is just one of the many tragedies involving school-aged children in recent months. Stories about incidents in Overbook, Roxborough, West Oak Lane, and other working class, Black and brown neighborhoods appear more and more often in the news.
As a mother of two young Black boys myself, I am deeply concerned by the growing amount of youth becoming entangled in the violence epidemic.
The number of shooting victims under the age of 18 has steadily grown since 2015 from 6.3% to 9.6%. At the same time, the percentage of young people arrested for gun violence tripled between 2017 and 2022.
What is happening here fits very into a very troubling national landscape. Adolescent mortality rose in the United States by 20% between 2019 and 2021, the largest increase in at last half of a century.
And for the first time ever, the number one cause of death for children is gun violence.
This is a public health emergency, and every day of inaction creates a lifetime of consequences!
This is a public health emergency, and every day of inaction creates a lifetime of consequences!
Skeptics have asked me several times why I am focusing today’s hearing on youth rather than young people in their twenties – considering the median age of someone arrested for gun violence is 24 to 26.
Let me answer this question directly: Almost every perpetrator of gun violence had a touchpoint with the government when they were under the age of 18!
The 100 Shootings report revealed that 3 in 4 shooters had prior arrests.
As many as 93% interacted with the criminal justice system or a health and human services agency. And on average, this interaction occurred 11 and a half years before the shooting occurred!
As many as 93% interacted with the criminal justice system or a health and human services agency. And on average, this interaction occurred 11 and a half years before the shooting occurred!
What do all these statistics mean? It is troubling confirmation that today’s shooters were innocent, underserved kids who came to the City in search of help – and that the City failed them.
So we are all here today, focused on youth specifically, because we cannot afford to abandon the next generation of children, too!
This morning we will hear from a broad cross-section of leaders and City departments who work directly with young people.
I routinely hear from parents that the City’s youth services system is complex and siloed – making it challenging for the community to understand how it all fits together.
For this reason, my first goal for today’s hearing is to provide an on-the-record, bird’s eye view of how distinct City agencies work – or do not work – together to uplift our children.
And since we are in the midst of budget season, my hope is today’s discussion will help us uncover legislative, programmatic, and financial solutions to the youth gun violence crisis.
We also need to know which metrics we already have and what kind of data we must collect to understand which City programs focused on young people and violence prevention work as intended, which do not, and where programmatic gaps remain.
Only then we will be able to speak with confidence and make the changes necessary to give young people and their parents the support they need to thrive!
Thank you to the Kenney Administration, the advocates who fight passionately for our youth, and my Council colleagues – most especially Committee Chairman @CouncilmemberKJ for his tireless work to combat gun violence across Southwest and the city as a whole!
@CouncilmemberKJ I also want to thank the young people testifying this morning. If nothing else, I hope today shows you that we are listening, we want to be part of the solution, and we love you!
@CouncilmemberKJ It is the City’s duty to do more to support young survivors of violence and ensure all our children are safe and have the resources they need to succeed.
@CouncilmemberKJ Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders. The future of Philadelphia depends on us coming together and boldly investing in the well-being of our young people!
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict: We have to provide as many expressways for success as possible.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @CouncilmemberKJ: We have to be intentional about wrapping our arms around our young people.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: As so meone who spent nearly 37 years in the public safety space, it has been an unacceptable number of people shot, especially when it comes to our young people.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: This school year alone, 107 young people shot have been active students.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: Most of these students have been shot in the community, but there has been a significant rise in the amount of violence around schools.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: We provide direct support to students and their families when a shooting occurs.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: We have a longstanding partnership with PPD, and we could not keep our children safe without their support.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: PPD provides uniformed officers during dismissal to escort children.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: We provide extra supervision and support during dismissal to reduce the rate of violence experienced by students.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: DHS has been with us for 9 years supporting thousands of students.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: DHS offers community-based violence prevention services, which has helped us significantly reduce school arrests.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: We engage our high-risk youth at Bartram HS to prevent them from engaging in violence.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: We created three PAL centers in our toughest neighborhoods to build and foster healthy relationships with SROs and to give students a positive outlook in their neighborhoods.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: We have two social workers trained in crisis managers who respond to these incidents.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: We have a mentoring initiative between students and school safety officers.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: We work with reentering students to ensure they have support and know someone will hold them accountable.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Chief of School Safety Kevin Bethel: We cannot normalize what we are seeing in our schools. We need to use every tool at our disposal to reduce violence.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: We use a multi-faceted approach to support our children, staff, and families.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: For a decade we have poured resources into evidence-based social and emotional programming.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: We offer several options schools can select from.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: One program is a school-wide restorative justice program that is in seventy+ schools. There has been transformative work done at schools with this model, like at South Philadelphia HS.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: Evidence proves school-wide intervention programs prevent violence in and out of school.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: Strong relationships with adults and peers are a strong protector against youth participating in violence.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: By reducing behavioral disruptions, these programs create a better learning environment.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: Prevention programs reduce bullying, which can lead to violence.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: Our office found research that investments in school-wide prevention have made schools safer. Schools that implemented these programs had violence decrease 7x faster.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: We have become a leader amoung urban school districts in leveraging student voices to improve supports that prevent violence.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: We see a strong correlation at the HS level between positive reports of student relationships and attendance and academic achievement.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: The district has ever-expanding support for students with the greatest need.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: We provide services to victims, siblings, and school-aged family members and friends of gun violence.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: Support is provided by district employees and community members. We have an increased number of school counselors.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: We also have a four-person team who provides clinical support to individuals and groups, as well as case management.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: We continue to work with community partners to support students and communities experiencing gun violence.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: The impact of trauma on our youth is undeniable. We are continuing to look at how to support adults and children given all that has gone on.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: As gun violence and trauma increase, it is important to implement new trauma-informed interventions. We are trying to bring healing-centered engagement, which emphasizes culture, agency, relationships, and aspirations.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: We are helping our helpers take care of themselves, so they can continue to support our youth.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: Students will be invited to attend a camp this summer where they can heal.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: We are expanding mentoring options so we can reach additional students.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: We are giving reentering students the option to earn credit for participating in restorative circles.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict #phled Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention Dr. Banks: The greatest need is not for new or different district support, but rather a coordinated-community effort that improves collaboration across different communities.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS: The mission of DHS is to provide and promote safety, permanency, and well-being for children at risk of abuse, neglect, and delinquency.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: We work with our partners in the First Judicial District, Juvenile Probation, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Office of Children and Families.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: We believe in a community-based approach to prevention.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: We have increased and expanded our use of diversion and prevention services. We concentrate on providing safe places, supportive services, and positive activities for youth, including those who may be at risk of involvement in gun violence.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: We operate 3 main programs that are open to youth ages 10-21 and they require no referral. These programs are designed to help youth at risk of becoming entangled with the juvenile justice system.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: The programs share a common goal to connect with youth, they emphasize family engagement, conflict resolution, violence prevention, mentorship, coaching, and providing other service linkages.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: Community Evening Resource Centers (CERC): Since opening in 2021, the CERCs have connected with 742 unique youth among 2,740 visits. This number includes both youth who may have come to the Center voluntarily or by way of the PPD for a curfew violation.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: Intensive Prevention Services (IPS) is a diversion service that works with both the youth and family to build resiliency and a sense of self- worth for the young person.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: In FY-22, 832 youth were referred to IPS. It is both a case management and site-based service which offers positive youth development programs and support to keep young people on track. This program has a capacity to serve approximately 1, 300 youth per year.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: Don’t Fall Down in the Hood (DFDITH) is designed for youth who have been exposed to gun violence or who have gun charges.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: Annually DFDITH has a capacity to serve a little over 450 youth. The expansion allows DHS to provide additional support to young people, preventing them from further involvement into the system.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: We believe that providing community-based alternatives helps to reduce youth incarceration and curb recidivism. Our JJS division offers several programs available to youth post arrest.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: At the PJJSC, while youth are detained waiting for their hearings, we offer behavioral health support, education, and vocational programs. We also fund longer term placement options at private providers and some of our youth are placed in State facilities.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Ruth Abaya: As a pediatrician, I hope to never see children impacted by firearm violence. But the truth is, we see children and youth impacted by violence every day.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: Firearm violence has always impacted children, but in the setting of an increase in firearm violence in Philadelphia and in many other cities throughout the country, we have also seen an uptick in the proportion of children affected.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: While the number of children that were victims of shooting incidents increased in 2020, the percent of total shooting victims that were children has also shown an uptick.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: Children are one of our greatest sources of hope for the future, and a thoughtful approach to prevention and intervention among children and youth is part of any successful gun violence strategy.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: Firearm access among youth is complicated. Research has shown parental ownership predicts youth possession, and that youth access is linked with involvement in violence. There is no question that the availability of firearms confers risk to youth.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: At the same time, we have to address what motivates gun carrying in young people, the very real fears that drive that practice and use of strategies informed by youth to change the belief that gun carrying can prevent violence.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: Safe storage has implications for access among very young children, as it is often not realized that children as young as 2 or 3 might be able to pull a trigger.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: We must continue our advocacy in addressing how firearms land on our streets in the first place.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: It’s also important to note the role that employment can play—in Philadelphia chronic unemployment, especially among black and brown men and boys, occurs in similar parts of the city as firearm violence.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: Employment is tied to educational opportunities as well. A safe, trauma-informed educational experience is so critical in the development of young children and youth.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: The quality of a child’s school experiences, where they spend the majority of their time, has the potential to affect so many outcomes.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: Regardless of which strategies we employ, one important reality is that we need to think about sustainability.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: In summary, an effective youth violence prevention strategy reduces risks such as firearm access, unemployment, inadequate educational support, and unhealed trauma.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: It also builds on protective factors, seeing in each young person---and helping them to see in themselves---all their future potential.
@CouncilmemberKJ @Mr_4thDistrict @PhiladelphiaDHS Dr. Abaya: The job of a young person is to learn, to explore the world and discover their place in it. These strategies help build a bridge between their present and a brighter future.
#phled Chief Bethel: We need parents to become more involved in violence prevention.
#phled Chief Bethel: Parents sometimes fight outside school, which can create an unsafe atmosphere.
#phled Chief Bethel: We should do better with parent engagement. As we think through the safe passage program, we can find ways to include parents more.
I encourage us to think about the safe passage program as a way we do business -- not just a grant-funded pilot. We are not in the pilot phase of gun violence, the solutions that make a lot of sense should be expanded to every school struggling with violence.
#phled Chief Bethel: We evaluate every program we do.
#phled Chief Bethel: We have a much lower recidivism rate for students diverted vs. arrested.
#phled Chief Bethel: We use responses collected by students to select our safe passage corridor.
#phled Chief Bethel: I have a full-time researcher in my office to complete evaluations.
#phled Chief Bethel: We want to go back and look at data to understand touchpoints and understand what we could have done differently to prevent a student becoming engaged in violence.
#phled Chief Bethel: We have identified that most of our children are being shot after school, within 2 miles of school, and before 5:30pm. So we know out-of-school time is critical to the safety of our students.
#phled Dr. Banks: We need collaboration between interventions so we can all work together.
@Mr_4thDistrict: I am convinced now more than ever that solutions to gun violence exist.
@Mr_4thDistrict @Mr_4thDistrict: Violence starts in schools but spills out onto the streets.
@Mr_4thDistrict @Mr_4thDistrict: We have to bring solutions that work up to scale.
And we cannot be afraid to cut things that do not work.
And we cannot be afraid to cut things that do not work.
#phled Dr. Banks: Sometimes we use different words when we mean the same thing or our communication is not as clear. One of our goals should be to use the same language so as we attack the problem we are on the same page.
@PhiladelphiaDHS: We looked at young people arrested to determine their outcomes. I am hesitant to tell you the results because of data limitations.
@PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: Enough time has not passed since we began this study. Also, our definition of recidivism included children discharged from services or the court system.
@PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: Our study showed that within a year, only 1% of young people recidivated. But we think this is not accurate because of our definition of recidivism.
@PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: We know our recidivism rate is higher than 1%, based on data from the JJSC.
We also know that as time goes on, the recidivism rate will increase.
We also know that as time goes on, the recidivism rate will increase.
@PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: We are in the process of hiring a research analyst so we can increase our capacity to do evaluations.
@PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: Our next analysis will be complete within six months.
@PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: We have to be more intentional with family engagement, and everything we do around gun violence.
@PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: When we have parents at the table with us, we have to be more intentional in addressing the violence.
@PhiladelphiaDHS @PhiladelphiaDHS: Trauma must be integrated in all of our services, whether it is prevention or placement.
Dr. Abaya: Safe storage is a solution that has been slept on. It matters who the messenger is and there is an opportunity to expand this.
Dr. Abaya: A collaborative approach is critical as well.
Dr. Abaya: We cannot ignore the manifestation of violence on social media. The City should invest in online violence disruption.
#phled Chief Bethel: Having parental participation has always been a challenge.
#phled Karyn Lynch: For every action, whether it is attendance or safety, parent involvement is critical.
#phled Karyn Lynch: We are eager to join a citywide initiative to get parents involved with their child's lives.
#phled Karyn Lynch: We are actively engaging incarcerated fathers. Keeping them involved in their children's lives is critical.
CM Phillips: We need more vice principals so principals have more time for home visits to engage parents.
CM Phillips: Building relationships with families is crucial to getting violence under control. We need a more robust parent advocate system.
CM Lozada: I am frustrated every time we engage the District we continue to hear about plans. I have not heard "this is what we have been doing".
#phled Karyn Lynch: Parents are involved in the District's arrest diversion program, which is in partnership with DHS. We also offer parent support.
#phled Karyn Lynch: When a parent comes to us for something that is beyond our reach, we connect them to another City agency.
CM Lozada: You are giving me a list of programs that have engagement, but everyone else said we need more programs that engage parents. Are you folks in the DIstrict siloed or working together?
#phled Karyn Lynch: We work together frequently internally, but sometimes we engage external partners more often.
#phled Karyn Lynch: I support a larger, collaborative effort to engage parents -- but we are already engaging parents.
@PhiladelphiaDHS: All of our intervention and prevention services are listed online. But we know we have to do better to get the word out, and will ask Council to share the information. We will also do a fair for families.
#phled Chief Bethel: I do not oversee safety at charter schools, but we are in constant communication.
#phled Chief Bethel: We can absolutely do a better job collaborating on safety with charters.
#phled Karyn Lynch: We have behavioral health services in all of our schools.
#phled Dr. Banks: We had a strong hiring of counselors this year. We filled most of our vacancies.
#phled Dr. Banks: Some schools need more counselors, but others need climate staff. It depends on the site, and we are invested in giving each school its specific need.
@JimHarrity: We need to have an honest conversation with at-risk kids to understand what is going on.
@JimHarrity @JimHarrity: We have to find a better way to reach our kids.
Tyler McDaniels: I am a 19-year-old from West Philly. We had to grow up fast.
Tyler McDaniels: My PO never asked me "what will it take to keep you out of violence".
@YEAHPhilly: We are a community based organization in West and Southwest with a focus on those in the legal system.
@YEAHPhilly @YEAHPhilly: We try and give young people resources in their own communities. We are intentionally separate from systems.
@YEAHPhilly @YEAHPhilly: Young people have infinite terms of probation because there is nothing for them to work towards. Judges and probation officers move the goalposts arbitrarily.
@YEAHPhilly @YEAHPhilly: The court system perpetually continues the cycle of violence by forcing young people into ineffective programs.
@YEAHPhilly @YEAHPhilly: The court is not being held accountable for how they perpetuate violence.
@YEAHPhilly @YEAHPhilly: Our services are free and nobody is forced to join, and no one has the outcomes we do.
@YEAHPhilly @YEAHPhilly: Areas with the highest rates of crime have been disinvested from.
@YEAHPhilly @YEAHPhilly: We need to listen to young people and invest in what they need to get beyond survival.
Tyler McDaniels: Young people choose to carry guns because you can die by living the right life.
Tyler McDaniels: We are not the ones bringing guns into Philly, they are not appearing out of nowhere. But we are punished for wanting to protect ourselves.
Tyler McDaniels: I want City leaders to put themselves in young people's shoes. Show, do not just say, that you want to help.
Tyler McDaniels: No one teaches us how to buy a house, open a bank account, or anything we need to know how to survive.
CM Lozada: we have to be able to teach young people about quality of life. A lot of people can teach STEM and history, but if we do not teach them how to live -- we are not teaching them anything.
Anton Moore: One of our signature programs is to teach kids carpentry.
Anton Moore: There is a need for investment in our young people. When kids show up to my programs, sometimes there are issues that need a wholistic approach.
Anton Moore: When you are working in a neighborhood on a daily basis, you tend to know who the shooters are. The City needs to look at them, as well as the group of kids coming up after them.
Anton Moore: Kids are getting involved in crime at 13.
Anton Moore: A kid who is 13 today can be a shooter tomorrow. Being on-the-ground and providing kids with the resources they need is critical.
Anton Moore: Doing this work can be overwhelming. We are dealing with the kids and the parents and we need the resources to have the capacity to deal with these issues.
@CM_JimHarrity: If these kids are our future, we need to provide them with a future.
@YEAHPhilly: #JustServicesPHL is a huge component of anti-violence. Cleaner neighborhoods reduce violence.
@YEAHPhilly @YEAHPhilly: We need more public spaces for young people to just be.
Anton Moore: at least once a week, kids should be allowed to go to a job site and learn a trade.
Anton Moore: The City should work with the FJD to allow advocates into courtrooms.
@PPDJohnStanford: Since 2014 homicide and shooting victims continue to increase.
But YTD homicides are down 11% and shooting victims 15%.
But YTD homicides are down 11% and shooting victims 15%.
@PPDJohnStanford @PPDJohnStanford: Juvenile involvement in shootings has slightly increased since 2015.
@PPDJohnStanford @PPDJohnStanford: The bulk of shooting victims and perpetrators continue to be between 18 and 34.
@PPDJohnStanford @PPDJohnStanford: Percent of juvenile arrests for non-carjacking robberies has decreased since 2019.
@PPDJohnStanford @PPDJohnStanford: In 2022, Juveniles were arrested throughout Philadelphia; however, the highest number of juvenile incidents were in the 15th, 22nd, and 24th Districts.
@PPDJohnStanford @PPDJohnStanford: In 2022, there were 217 juvenile shooting victims, about 10% of all shooting victims.
@PPDJohnStanford @PPDJohnStanford: 23% of juvenile victims were victimized during the dates of summer break (6/14 to 8/28). July, August, and June are all among the top 5 months for juvenile shooting victimization, aligning with the typical seasonality of gun violence.
@PPDJohnStanford @PPDJohnStanford: 42% of juvenile victims were shot during the hours of 9pm and 4:59am. With 27% of victimization occurring during the 10pm-2am curfew window for all juveniles.
@PPDJohnStanford @PPDJohnStanford: In 2020, according to the CDC, firearm related injuries overtook motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death among children and adolescents, age 1-19, in the United States.
@PPDJohnStanford @PPDJohnStanford: For the leading cause of death of juveniles in Philadelphia, firearm-related injuries in Philadelphia have been nearly the same as unintentional injuries, however since 2019, firearm deaths have increased by 156%.
@PPDJohnStanford @PPDJohnStanford: We will sustain our continued effort to be inclusive to all, including our juveniles.
@PPDJohnStanford @PPDJohnStanford: Every Police District will host summer events to engage young people.
@PPDJohnStanford @PPDJohnStanford: Patrol with work with PPR to increase visibility at parks and rec centers.
@PPDJohnStanford @PPDJohnStanford: We have many young programs, including the Police Activity League and Police Explorer Program.
@philadao: The number of youth arrested has been declining steadily -- as it has been across the nation.
@philadao @philadao: In 2012, there were 14 juveniles arrested for homicide. In 2022 there were 37 juveniles arrested for homicide.
@philadao @philadao: The recidivism rate for youth is 57%, and 81% if a youth has 2+ arrests.
We hired an economics firm to do this evaluation and used our case-management system.
We hired an economics firm to do this evaluation and used our case-management system.
@philadao @philadao: We need to bring youth to the table and have them involved in deciding and implementing anti-violence and anti-crime initiatives.
@philadao @philadao: 60-70 kids are awaiting placement. It costs $700 per day per child held at JJSC while waiting for placement.
We are not reimbursed by the state for this cost.
We are not reimbursed by the state for this cost.
@philadao @philadao: We do not have adequate placements. They do not provide the educational and vocational programs children need.
The best type of programs are close to home, here in Philadelphia.
The best type of programs are close to home, here in Philadelphia.
@philadao @philadao: Our programming for girls is inadequate. We need to do a lot more on this front.
@philadao @philadao: We need the state to implement sufficient programming into the state system.
Our children need educational and job opportunities, so they are rehabilitated not just punished.
Our children need educational and job opportunities, so they are rehabilitated not just punished.
@PhilaCourts: From the onset of a new referral, we work with DBH to evaluate trauma.
@PhilaCourts @PhilaCourts: We utilize @PhiladelphiaDHS evening centers to work with young people at the highest risk. Some youth are court ordered to attend programming at these centers.
@PhilaCourts @PhilaCourts: We have quadrupled home visits to youth involved with gun violence.
We also use GPS to keep young people we serve away from neighborhoods where they may be shot and killed by rivals.
We also use GPS to keep young people we serve away from neighborhoods where they may be shot and killed by rivals.
@PhilaCourts @PhilaCourts: We have connected youth to positive physical activities. And we try and connect youth to summer job opportunities.
@PhilaCourts @PhilaCourts: We have been involved with multiple community events. Last week, we were at Stenton Rec to offer resources and food giveaways.
@PhilaCourts @PhilaCourts: The number of guns flooding our streets is overwhelming. And access to these weapons is relatively easy.
89 youth have been charged with gun-related charges this year alone.
89 youth have been charged with gun-related charges this year alone.
@PhilaCourts @PhilaCourts: We can do better, including a more symbiotic relationship with @PHLschools.
@PhilaCourts @PHLschools @PhilaCourts: We can only intervene with kids involved with the judicial system.
@PhilaCourts @PHLschools @PhilaCourts: We are working with the FBI and DAO on their new carjacking initiatives.
@PhilaCourts @PHLschools @PhilaCourts: We have received $20,000 worth of drugs and 26 firearms from young people under our supervision.
@PhillyDefenders: Involvement in gun violence is about more than individual choices and we cannot solve it by only focusing on prosecution.
@PhillyDefenders @PhillyDefenders: The best approach to reducing gun violence is not criminalizing the fear young people experience when they navigate the realities of life in their neighborhoods.
@PhillyDefenders @PhillyDefenders: the conditions our young people live in are the reason they are carrying weapons.
@PhillyDefenders @PhillyDefenders: Despite the exponential increase in arrests for firearms, gun violence remains prevalent.
@PhillyDefenders @PhillyDefenders: Children facing firearm offenses experience lifelong consequences.
@PhillyDefenders @PhillyDefenders: Studies prove we can safely address non-violent gun offenses without detention.
@PhillyDefenders @PhillyDefenders: 25% of youth we represented had a prior active case in dependency court.
@PhillyDefenders @PhillyDefenders: More than 75% of youth who faced delinquency charges lived in an area disproportionately impacted by gun violence.
@PhillyDefenders @PhillyDefenders: Our youth are suffering and their life experiences are driving their involvement with gun violence.
@PhillyDefenders @PhillyDefenders: with the right investment, we can serve as a one-stop-shop for our clients and reduce gun violence.
@YSRPinPhilly YSRP uses direct service and policy advocacy to transform the experiences of children prosecuted in the adult criminal legal system, including supporting them throughout their case and as they return home from incarceration.
@YSRPinPhilly @YSRPinPhilly: We concentrate on what young people say they need to heal - a question that is all too rare for young people, especially Black and Brown youth.
@YSRPinPhilly @YSRPinPhilly: We want to clearly state that there are too many children incarcerated in Philadelphia, that this harms rather than helps all of our safety.
@YSRPinPhilly @YSRPinPhilly: Incarceration is not the only possible response when a child violates the law and that children should never, under any circumstances, be tried as if they were adults.
@YSRPinPhilly @YSRPinPhilly: There are major gaps in the resources we as a city offer to young people who are returning from incarceration.
@YSRPinPhilly @YSRPinPhilly: What we need even more than more programs is to think holistically about the people and opportunities that nurtured us, kept us safe and held us accountable in ways that shifted us towards growth and then go do those things.
@YSRPinPhilly @YSRPinPhilly: Recidivism is the wrong measure for safety and rehabilitation.
@YSRPinPhilly @YSRPinPhilly: At some point today, pause and think about someone who loves you. How did that person show up? Because these are the interventions we should be uplifting, not those that punish poverty.
@YSRPinPhilly @YSRPinPhilly: even those involved in acts of harm want safety.
@YSRPinPhilly: Recidivism is defined differently by different groups. But no matter how you define it, it focuses on whether someone went back to jail -- not their health and safety.
@YSRPinPhilly @YSRPinPhilly: Just capturing whether someone is rearrested also tells us very little about what resources and support folks have around them that help them navigate the world.
@YSRPinPhilly @YSRPinPhilly: We ask young people "what are your goals" and hold them accountable towards achieving those goals.
@YSRPinPhilly @YSRPinPhilly: When I am focused on finding a job or buying a house, I am less focused on scrolling through YouTube.
@PhillyDefenders: Philadelphia leads the nation in the number of Black and brown kids placed into the foster system or dependency.
And this concludes today's hearing!
Thank you to all the expert witnesses.
This hearing was extremely eye-opening and I look forward to turning this discussion into action!
Thank you to all the expert witnesses.
This hearing was extremely eye-opening and I look forward to turning this discussion into action!
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