THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MILLER, AUMENT, BAKER, BEAR, BRADFORD, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DiGIROLAMO, GIBBONS, GILLEN, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HARHART, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, KOTIK, MAHONEY, MANN, MILLARD, MUSTIO, O'NEILL, QUINN, READSHAW, ROCK, ROSS, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, CULVER, SONNEY, STABACK AND VEREB, OCTOBER 2, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, OCTOBER 2, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the week of October 22 through 26, 2012, as

"Juvenile Detention Centers Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's 18 secure detention centers serving

the 67 counties of this Commonwealth should be recognized for

their ongoing protection of our communities and the care of

youth in their custody; and

WHEREAS, These facilities provide 739 beds Statewide for more

than 15,000 admissions to juvenile detention each year in this

Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The existence of these facilities provides a key

service to ensure community and individual protection; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's juvenile detention centers, adhering

to the Balanced and Restorative Justice Model, contribute to

public safety by providing a stable environment for at-risk

youth, both preadjudicated and adjudicated, providing education

and programming and ensuring sufficient opportunities for growth

and development of Pennsylvania's youth; and

WHEREAS, Through the continuing efforts of the juvenile

courts of Pennsylvania, juvenile detention is utilized only when

lesser restrictive environments are not in the best interest of

the youth or community; and

WHEREAS, Juvenile detention ensures every child's health and

well-being by providing competency development, self-discipline

and stabilization through comprehensive evaluations of both

physical and behavioral health and community involvement; and

WHEREAS, Hundreds of men and women are dedicated to ensuring

the proper care and supervision of the youth and are committed

to the protection of Pennsylvania's communities on a daily

basis; and

WHEREAS, Youth care workers in Pennsylvania detention

facilities stand ready on a daily basis to respond to youth who

display an array of unresolved mental health, behavioral,

educational and emotional issues; and

WHEREAS, The Juvenile Detention Centers Association of

Pennsylvania acts as the sole resource for these facilities,

offering education, representation and support for all of the

important services that juvenile detention centers provide for

this Commonwealth's youth and communities; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's juvenile detention centers, in

coordination with the Juvenile Detention Centers Association of

Pennsylvania, merit one week of recognition for their unending

services aimed at protecting our communities and assisting

Pennsylvania's youth; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

week of October 22 through 26, 2012, as "Juvenile Detention

Centers Week" in Pennsylvania.