State laws pertaining to truants, runaways, and other "status offenders"--as distinguished from delinquents who have committed crimes--are discussed. Characteristics of these youths and their families are noted. Shortcomings of existing programs for them and the need for educational alternatives are pointed out. (PP)

This paper, which was presented as testimony at the State of New York hearing on dropouts, presents three causes for the high dropout rates of Black and Hispanic students and offers some solutions. It is noted that in large cities dropout rates range from as high as 50% to 70% among Blacks and Hispanics. The reasons cited for these high rates are:…

This document contains testimony and prepared statements from the Congressional hearing held to examine youth and the justice system. Factors which might lead to behavior problems among the young are identified and ways to ameliorate those conditions and prevent delinquency and incarceration of youths are considered. Witnesses include two juvenile…

The Subcommittee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse of the Senate Committee of Human Resources exists to review the federally funded alcohol and drug abuse education and prevention programs for youth. The purpose of this hearing was to consider S. 2915, a bill to renew and revise the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Education Act. Specifically, it suggests…

This record of the testimony presented to the Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency of the Committee on the Judiciary concerns the problem of the juvenile status offender in Iowa. Running away, truancy, defiance of and refusal to submit to parental authority and promiscuity are defined and treated as status offenses. This problem is…

This publication contains the testimony from a hearing on growth and tobacco use. Statements include: (1) Opening Statement of Senator Bill Frist; (2) Statements of a panel of teens, Brandi Battle, Washington, DC; Kellie Jolly, Tennessee; Nickita Bradley, Maryland; and Josh, Virginia; followed by discussion; (3) Discussion and prepared statements…

Sources of the crises faced by young black men lie not in the young men, but in society which portrays them as stereotypes. Social conditions are at the root of the following problems of black males: (1) lowered life expectancy; (2) risk of criminality; (3) poor economic conditions; (4) inadequate education; (5) drugs and gang violence; and (6)…

Data show that gangs, drugs, and random murders are becoming staples in the lives of U.S. children. Every major U.S. city is facing a deadly gang problem, exemplified by drive-by shootings and teenagers brandishing assault weapons. This document presents witness testimony, prepared statements, and panel discussions that examine the problem of gang…

This document presents the text of a Congressional hearing, chaired by Representative George Miller, on the epidemic of gang warfare and violence among youth. Testimony is presented from these witnesses: (1) James Brown, juvenile court probation officer, Multnomah County Juvenile Justice Department, Portland, Oregon; (2) John A. Calhoun, executive…

The rise of parental responsibility statutes creates tension between the state's duty to respect the integrity of the family and the duty to protect children and the best interests of society. Yet, there is an ever-growing belief that something must be done to reverse the trend of juvenile crime. Parental responsibility laws have emerged as an…

These hearings present a performance review of and information about the Federal administration of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, which assists 169 centers for runaways throughout the country. The centers provide emergency shelter and family mediation for many of the youngsters who run away or who are directed to leave home by their parents.…

The proceedings of this hearing on the exploitation of children deal with the problems of children and adolescents who run away from home. Family problems and abuse that cause these children to leave home are described by former runaway witnesses. Other testimony is included from several people who work with runaway youths and describe programs to…

Congressional hearings on American children and youth living in crisis were conducted in an effort to determine how the needs of these young people can assume their proper place in national priorities. A three-pronged strategy was suggested by chairman Edward Kennedy: (1) more investment in cost-effective programs that work (for example, Head…

This document contains findings of a study that examined the relationship between the use of disciplinary actions in Florida schools--in particular, out-of-school suspension, expulsion, and corporal punishment--and juvenile crime and delinquency. The primary data source was a random sample of 43,397 students in grades 6-12 enrolled in Florida…

This report presents verbatim, a hearing before the Subcommittee on Children, Family, Drugs and Alcoholism. The hearing featured a series of testimonies and stories on violence among young people in the United States. It opened with remarks by Subcommittee Chairman, Christopher Dodd. He was followed by numerous statements on the nature of violence…