Teams From Ten Cities Discuss Youth Violence Prevention

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leaders from ten cities gathered for a two-day working session hosted by the Justice Department to discuss better coordinating of federal, state, and local resources and efforts to address community violence.

The session, convened by the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, brought together local teams of mayors, police chiefs, educators, health officials, service providers, and other leaders, along with their U.S. Attorneys, to discuss comprehensive responses to youth and gang violence. The Forum welcomed leaders from newly-named Forum sites in Minneapolis, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Camden, N.J., who joined the founding member sites of Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, Tenn., Salinas and San Jose, Calif.   

"Youth violence is a complex and difficult problem and it will require all of us working together to address these challenges," said Mary Lou Leary, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. "Bringing networks of law enforcement agencies, educators, health and treatment providers, community and faith-based organizations, parents and kids to stand together in the fight against youth and gang violence is critical to reclaim our communities."

Launched in 2010 at the direction of President Obama, the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention (the Forum) is a network of federal agencies, localities and private partners that share information and support local efforts to prevent and reduce youth violence.

The Forum's participating cities were selected on the basis of need, geographic diversity, and willingness and capacity to explore new strategies. The Forum's federal partners include the Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development and Labor; the Corporation for National and Community Service; and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. For more information on the cities' plans and progress, please visit: www.findyouthinfo.gov/youthviolence.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). For more information about OJP and its components visit: www.ojp.gov.

SOURCE Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs