youth criminalization

Young people are not criminals nor 'super predators'. Get that straight! Our resources are being directed in vain towards the incarceration of our young people rather than the education of tomorrow's leaders. Spending more to lock up young people than to educate them is a cruel, self-fulfilling prophecy.

Since '93 the national homicide rate has dropped 20%, yet over that same period of time, ABC, NBC and CBS have increased coverage of homicides by 721%. SWOP wants to know...Do you believe the HYPE?

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SWOP defines criminalizaiton as: any rule, law, ordinance or policy that defines young people as criminals and further reinforces negative perceptions of young people.

Do you know your Rights?

The following is a link to a conversation about youth criminalization on the National Radio Project with SWOP organizer Fernando Abeyta.

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SouthWest Oranizing Project is committed to:

• Promote policy affirming commitment to provide a healthy, nurturing environment for our youth, and incarceration be a last resort when addressing issues of juvenile crime.
• Promote policy directing resources away from incarceration and towards youth centers, activities, extracurricular and after-school programs, counseling services and other proven crime prevention measures.
• Explore how cities and organizations around the country have dealth with juvenile violence without resorting to punitive measures.
• Ensuring young people know their rights.

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The following links will give the facts about juvenile crime.

• Juvenile Justice Information Center
• Schools Not Jails
• Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (Justice Policy Institute)