The Legislation

KEY ELEMENTS Funds Evidence-Based Violence Prevention & Intervention Practices. Empowers Local Control and Community Oversight. Will Reduce Crime and Save Taxpayer Money. Creates Accountability by Linking Funding to Measurable Success.

The Youth PROMISE Act as proposed in the House and Senate is a breakthrough piece of legislation that will implement and fund evidence-based practices related to juvenile justice and criminal gang activity. It will work to interrupt the cradle to prison pipeline that is far too common today by supporting proven prevention and intervention strategies. The act will both encourage and require leadership and oversight of these programs through community-based committees. Research shows that evidenced-based prevention programs for at-risk youth greatly reduce crime and save much more than they cost. And most importantly, these programs also save lives.

The Youth PROMISE Act will:

Fund, implement and evaluate evidence-based, locally controlled youth and gang violence prevention and intervention practices.

Hold communities accountable by linking funding to measurable success and requiring that at least 85% of funding be spent directly on programs.

Create a PROMISE Advisory Panel of state representatives to aid in assessing community needs and resources, developing and enforcing program evaluation standards and overseeing implementation.

Engage a wide range of community stakeholders to serve on local PROMISE Coordinating Councils , which will develop and implement custom PROMISE Plans for their communities. The Councils will include:

, which will develop and implement custom PROMISE Plans for their communities. The Councils will include: Community and Faith-Based Groups



Schools, Parents and Youth



Courts and Law Enforcement



Health Providers and Social Services



Nonprofit Organizations and Other Stakeholders

Build on local strengths by partnering with colleges and universities as regional research partners.

Establish a National Research Center for Proven Juvenile Justice Practices.