Ford School alumna Lelia Gowland (MPP '11) discussed the newly introduced Youth Promise Act (YPA) on WGNO's "The 411," a local New Orleans news and information television program. Gowland, the communications and development director for the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana, explained how the YPA bill would help prevent juvenile delinquency by funding, implementing, and evaluating crime prevention and intervention practices.
Introduced by U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and U.S. Senator James Inhofe from Oklahoma, the purpose of the bipartisan bill is to help prevent youth violence and street gang activity through "PROMISE": prison reduction, opportunities, mentoring, intervention, support, and education.
Gowland explained, "Rather than focusing on young people who are already involved in the criminal justice system, [the YPA] looks at ways of preventing criminal activity before it starts. Local coordinating councils would come together to propose a set of policies and programs to help stem the violence in their communities."
Watch the video here.