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Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference
Speech | March 7, 2011

Thank you, Judge [Glen] Whitley, for your kind words – and for your tireless efforts to improve government efficiency, to promote community safety and public health solutions, and to strengthen the important work of this association.

It is a pleasure to be with you – and with so many distinguished leaders and dedicated partners.   And it’s a privilege to join Admiral Mullen, and former Congressman Scarborough, in welcoming you to Washington.

Without question, we meet at a difficult – and defining – moment.   Although you represent the diversity of our nation’s counties and communities, each of you faces similar challenges: revenue shortfalls and budget cuts, understaffed justice systems and overcrowded jails and prisons, ongoing public safety difficulties and unprecedented national security threats.   No matter where you serve, each of you has seen – and experienced – the same struggles. (Read more)

Justice Department Announces a Comprehensive Agreement with New York to Remedy Violations and Ensure Constitutional Rights at Four Juvenile Justice Facilities
PR Newswire| July 14, 2010

WASHINGTON, July 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The United States has entered into a comprehensive agreement with theState of New York and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) that resolves previous findings of unconstitutional conditions at four juvenile justice facilities, the Justice Department announced today. The agreement resolvesthe United States’ investigation, which began in 2007, of the Finger Lakes Residential Center and Lansing Residential Center in Lansing, N.Y., and the Tryon Residential Center and Tryon Girls Center in Johnstown, N.Y. As a result of its investigation, the United States concluded that the facilities systematically violated juveniles’ constitutional rights in the areas of protection from harm and mental health care.  (Read more)

10 Facts on Female Victims of Violence
Posted by Tracy Russo | October 21, 2009

This month the Bureau of Justice Statistics released their latest report on Female Victims of Violence (PDF). The report focuses on intimate partner violence, rape and sexual assault, and stalking. It includes estimates of the extent of crimes against females and the characteristics of crimes and victims. The following 10 facts are a small sampling of findings from the report. (Read more)

Children’s Exposure to Violence: A National Survey
Posted by Tracy Russo | October 8, 2009

Yesterday, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) released The National Survey on Children’s Exposure to Violence. The report is a precedent-setting survey because it gives us the first real estimates—as the most comprehensive survey to date– on the nature and extent of violence in children’s lives. (Read more)

Girls’ Delinquency
Posted by Tracy Russo | September 29, 2009

In recent years, girls have become increasingly involved in the juvenile justice system. Delinquency caseloads over the past decade have increased more for girls than for boys, and the rate of detention for girls nationally has risen dramatically. (Read more)

Press Releases

12 Percent of Adjudicated Youth Report Sexual Victimization in Juvenile Facilities During 2008-09
Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics | January 7, 2010

WASHINGTON – An estimated 12 percent of adjudicated youth (3,220) in state operated and large locally or privately operated juvenile facilities reported experiencing one or more incidents of sexual victimization by another youth or facility staff in a survey mandated by the Prison Rape Elimination Act, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) in the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, announced today. About 2.6 percent of youth (700) reported an incident involving another youth, and 10.3 percent (2,730) reported an incident involving facility staff. (Read more)

Statement by Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Joint Study on School Crime and Safety
Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs | December 10, 2009

“The study released today shines a light on a problem too often in the dark – youth violence. Schools should be safe havens where young people can learn and prosper, and anything less than that is unacceptable.” (Read more)

Attorney General Holder, Secretary Duncan Meet with Youth Leaders, Parents on Teen Dating Violence
Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs | December 3, 2009

“We must engage the broadest spectrum of community partners in order to stem youth violence, and a cornerstone of that partnership is young people themselves,” said Attorney General Holder.  “The Department of Justice is committed to working with young people to develop innovative solutions to help prevent teen dating abuse.” (Read more)

Attorney General and Education Secretary Call for National Conversation on Values and Student Violence
U.S. Department of Justice to Release Study on Children’s Exposure to Violence | October 7, 2009

Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan today joined with Chicago city officials to call for a national conversation on values to address youth violence in the wake of the fatal beating of a Chicago high school student. The announcement followed meetings with City officials, community leaders, students, and parents. (Read more)