Board members can exert tremendous influence on gubernatorial candidates and state legislators to change the laws governing youth at risk programs. Such legislation has primarily emphasized punishment rather than preventive programs. This approach has increased the economic and social burden to society as so many youth are consigned to permanent status as social outcasts.

Similarly, the Juvenile Justice Bill (Senate Bill 363; now Public Act 90-590) proposed during the spring session gives lip service to the need for prevention without a specific initiative to back it up. In response, I wrote a letter to Governor Edgar proposing amendatory veto language for the bill. The governor made changes but did not go far enough in recognizing park districts, forest preserves and recreation agencies, which have more than a century of knowledge and proven experience with youth. We proposed the following amendatory veto language for Senate Bill 363:

By providing for proactive initiatives for youth, Illinois has the opportunity and potential to become a national leader rather than a follower. Illinois has outstanding youth organizations, including the strongest system of public park districts in the country. Working together with other "community agents," we have the ability to break the cycle of demonizing our youth and invest in strategies that make youth a productive, positive part of society, rather than a lifelong burden. Public Act 90-590 is a punishment approach and the potential benefits are limited to the short term. It is unfair to our youth and only perpetuates the growing class of adults whom we must pay to jail and prosecute, incarcerate, and worst of all fear when they are released to the public. There is another way.

The Problem
Research shows that the highest crime and teen pregnancy rates occur between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., when youth are oftentimes unsupervised and working parents are not at home. According to the Cook County Public Defender's Office: "The Juvenile Justice System needs funding at the front end, not the back end. We invest enough in this state in incarceration of youth; Illinois is sixth in the nation in its rate of incarceration of youth ages 16 and 17."

A Solution
With decades of experience working with children of all ages, Illinois park districts, forest preserves and recreation agencies know what youth programs work. They need positive activities and positive role models. Latchkey programs need augmentation. Especially between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., kids need constructive outlets for their energy and talents. In fact, when youth are asked why they commit crimes or deviant behaviors they often say they simply were bored. Providing organized, supervised recreation programs keeps kids out of trouble, plus it enriches their lives and points them toward a healthier and more productive future.

Positive role models from outside of family and school settings are critical, and they are not the types found in correctional centers. Good role models do include recreation leaders, sports coaches, camp counselors and other recreation personnel.

IAPD conducted two statewide conferences on youth at risk in cooperation with Attorney General Jim Ryan and, thus, we understand that partnerships and finding are key to effective prevention programs. We must invest in our youth early on, before they are caught up in activities that lead to punishment and imprisonment. By recommending new resources for responsible "community agents" that work with youth, we can begin the process of reallocating resources from punishing failures to prevention programs that promote success stories.

There is compelling truth to the saying, "The quality of society can be gauged by how it treats its children and its old people." Currently, we are doing much better with our elders than our children. Youth are our legacy, and they will be either our pride or our shame.

Please write your legislators and suggest their sponsorship of future legislation with the amendatory language that IAPD proposed to Public Act 90-590.

We must make a moral commitment to place the present and future needs of our youth as the very highest priority for personal and social investment.