NEW: Senators to Meet on Providence Youth Crime
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
At the request of Sen. Juan M. Pichardo (D – Dist. 2, Providence), the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services will meet on Wednesday, December 14, at 3 p.m. to examine factors that may contribute to youth violence, particularly a number of recent homicides in the City of Providence. On November 30, a 14-year-old boy was fatally shot inside his home, which is in Sen. Pichardo’s district.
Senator Pichardo called for the hearing last week, wanting to explore processes and state supports that have worked and failed in these recent cases and in general, as well as ways in which state agencies and law enforcement can work together to successfully prevent youth violence and provide supports to parents.
“There is no time to waste on this critical issue,” said Sen. Pichardo. “I have been working with youth on the challenges many face in the inner city. We want to ensure our systems function effectively to prevent incarceration and violence. We should do everything possible to find gaps that may exist and fix them to provide needed supports to children and families. We need to see where services can be improved, and where we can better work together among agencies and with the General Assembly to prevent violence and help all children reach their full potential.”
Sen. Pichardo is a member of the committee, which is chaired by Sen. Rhoda E. Perry (D – Dist. 3, Providence).
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