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CALL TO ACTION: Attend a Town Hall Meeting & Speak Out for Juvenile Justice Reform
Members of Congress will be in their home states for the summer district work period between August 9 and September 13, 2010. This congressional recess presents a valuable opportunity for CJJ members and allies to connect with their Congressional representatives and urge them to pass Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Act reauthorization legislation this year.
JJDPA reauthorization is three years overdue for reauthorization. In December 2009, the Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senators Herb Kohl (D-WI), Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Richard Durbin (D-IL), approved S. 678, strong JJDPA reauthorization legislation that provides better protections for court-involved youth and their families and additional empirically-based supports to state and local jurisdictions to prevent delinquency and reform their juvenile justice systems. S. 678, however, is awaiting action on the Senate floor, and the House has yet to introduce similar legislation.
CJJ encourages its members and allies, in your official and personal capacities, to show your support for JJDPA reauthorization by attending a Town Hall meeting during the August recess and speaking out for juvenile justice reform.
Actions you can take:
(1) Find out when your Members of Congress are hosting Town Hall Meetings: Check the websites of your members to see if they have scheduled a Town Hall meeting in your area. For the House, visit www.house.gov. For the Senate, visit www.senate.gov. You can also call the main congressional switchboard (202)-224-3121 to get connected to your members’ offices. Some members may have Town Hall information on their Facebook page or you can check local newspaper listings.
(2) Spread the Word: Once you know if and when your members are hosting a Town Hall meeting, get the word out! Invite others to join you.
(3) Speak out: Ask a question or make a comment during the Town Hall. Be sure to articulate your connection to and interest in JJDPA reauthorization, e.g., “I serve on my state SAG.” Sample Question: “Here is the state of _____, children, families and communities have benefited greatly from the guidance and support provided by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. What actions will you take to ensure that the Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Act is reauthorized by Congress this year?”
(4) Let us know how it went: If you attend a Town Hall, let us know how it went! Were you able to make a comment or ask a question? If so, what did your Member of Congress say in response? Send your comments to andrews@juvjustice.org
For additional information, visit: www.act4jj.org.
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