"Research vs. Reality" Explored By Panel of Experts; National Survey Results Revealed

Boys & Girls Clubs of America will host a national forum on youth violence, focusing on violence committed by and against youth, with a special focus on gang issues and efforts to protect young people from gang-related violence and crime.

Top national experts in criminal justice, law enforcement, gang intervention and youth development will discuss the latest statistics and trends in gangs and other youth violence. A panel of youth who have been gang members and/or experienced gang-related violence will discuss their experiences and how the reality of life on the streets relates to community anti-violence programs.

BGCA will release the results of a new survey, asking teens about violence in their communities.

WHEN: 2 – 4 p.m., June 26, 2008

WHERE:
Brookhaven Boys & Girls Club
1330 North Druid Hills Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30319
Club Phone: (404) 237-0765

PANELISTS:

National Experts:

• James Alan Fox, Ph.D., Lipman Family Professor of Criminal Justice and Professor of Law, Policy and Society at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He has published 16 books and numerous magazine and journal articles on multiple murder, juvenile crime, school violence, workplace violence and capital punishment.
• Dana Peterson, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Criminal Justice at the University at Albany, NY. She teaches and conducts research in the areas of youth violence, youth gangs and gang prevention.
• Yvonne Pointer, Cleveland, Ohio based anti-gang advocate and community activist
• Marco Silva, Gwinnett County Police Detective. Silva is a former gang member who joined the police force to combat gangs and gang violence. He is a frequent speaker at schools about the dangers of gang involvement.
• Joe Mollner, senior director of delinquency prevention, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He’s a retired police commander with over 27 years of law enforcement experience.

Youth Panel (for their safety, the young people have not been identified by name)

• 17-year-old from Newport News, VA with family members involved in gangs. He has served on a local police youth council and participated in an international forum sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance.
• 22-year-old former gang member from Minneapolis, MN. She has been awarded a college scholarship and plans to earn a degree in law enforcement.
• 23-year-old from Ft. Worth, TX previously involved in gang activity. Two brothers were also gang members and one is now in prison.
• 31-year-old former gang member from San Pedro, CA. Her father was a gang member and drug abuser. Now free of gangs, she works at her local Boys & Girls Club.

WHY: Although violent crime committed individually by young people has dropped significantly since the early 90s, recent crime figures point to an increased level of violence across the nation, perpetrated by gangs.

New and expanded programs are begin implemented nationwide to help keep kids out of gangs and away from the violence that accompanies them.

Gang activity is notably prevalent in our largest cities. More than 90% reported gang activity every year from 1996 to 2003. Studies in large urban areas show gang members are responsible for a large portion of all violent offenses committed during the adolescent years.

OTHER INFORMATION: