By Pamela McLoughlin, Register Staff

NEW HAVEN — U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, went into 672 Congress Ave., Monday as a believer in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, and after touring the facility and talking to youths in the program, left with a big smile.

DeLauro, of New Haven, took the tour to call attention to the need to reauthorize the act that provides support for youths ages 12-17 who may have violated the rules, but get a chance to straighten up short of entering prison.

DeLauro said many of the youths have erred because of circumstances beyond their control. Getting them in a program protects society and gives them another chance in a nurturing environment that won’t come with the new problems associated with prison. She said young people who make a mistake shouldn’t be put in with hardened criminals.

In the long run, such programs save lives and money, program officials said.

DeLauro visited the Family Support Center and Youth Center for Assessment Respite and Enrichment run by St. Francis Home for Children. She was especially touched by a young man who told her he had self-control problems, but was able to cope through music.

“These centers work day in and day out to give these kids another chance to reach their fullest potential as members of society. ... These are first lines of defense,” DeLauro said.

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency and Prevention Act is up for a vote sometime this year.

Research estimates as many as 200,000 youths nationally are processed in adult criminal court each year, and on any given day, there are nearly 10,000 youths under age 18 in adult jails and prisons, DeLauro said.

Officials said the youths may have committed crimes that include larceny, robbery or even risk of injury to a minor for having someone underage with them during a crime. Some young people addressed under the act might not have committed crimes, but fall under the Family With Service Needs Laws that allow for court referrals for a child under 16 for actions such as running away without just cause, being beyond the control of a parent or guardian, being truant from school.

Abby Anderson, executive director of Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance, said, “These kids tend to get overlooked,” as if people think they’re going to go away. The idea is to turn them around early, she said.

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