Louise from Boulder

I am a clinical psychologist at CU-Boulder. I conducted research on a program at the Juvenile Probation Department in Boulder. It was for chronic, violent, juvenile offenders. Although such youth usually re-offend, this program turned out to reduce recidivism by 50% -- an extremely successful outcome for the individuals and for society. A few weeks after we finished the evaluation, the program was closed down.

Gov. Owens had simply cut the money. Incarceration was left as the only alternative, although it cost approximately ten times more and almost assured a hopeless life for these youth.

I hope that Senator Udall will draw on the best science to select programs for high-risk youth and support only those with proven effectiveness -- not "faith based" programs nor ones intended to prove that politicians are "tough." It will take a generation to repair the harm the Republicans have done to our most vulnerable (and dangerous) youth.

Filed in: Make Your Mark > Justice and Crime Prevention