Prevention of Youth and Gang Violence. Hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session (June 13, 2005) S. Hrg. 109-77

During this hearing, the Committee heard testimony on the issue of juvenile violence. Juvenile violence is a problem nationally of epidemic proportion, a very, very serious problem in the city of Philadelphia and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In the first five months of this year there has been an enormous increase in juvenile violence with some 63 deaths recorded among those 24 years of age and younger, compared to 41 for the first five months of last year, an increase of more than 50 percent. Statements and submissions for the record in this hearing were presented by: Joseph R. Biden (D-DEL); Dianne Feinstein (D-CA); Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT); Ileana Arias, Acting Director, National Center for Injury Prevention, Centers for Disease Control, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.; J. Robert Flores, Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquent Prevention, Office of Justice Program, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.; Sarah Hart, Director, National Institute of Justice, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.; Sylvester Johnson, Commissioner, Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; James Kane, Executive Director, Delaware Criminal Justice Council, Wilmington, Delaware; Regina McDonald, Assistant Chief, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Patrick Meehan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Rick Santorum (R-PA); and Paul Vallas, Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.