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Rep. Scott Will Host National Crime Policy Summit

June 18, 2007
(Washington D.C.) - Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, is hosting a National Crime Policy Summit to examine the causes of and solutions to Violent Crime. Rep. Scott has lined up 40 experts to discuss this subject on Thursday, June 21 and Friday, June 22, 2007.

The program will begin on June 21, Thursday afternoon 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. with the first panel on Race and the Criminal Justice System in 2226 Rayburn HOB. This will be followed by a reception in the same location.

The summit will reconvene on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in 2141 Rayburn HOB. Throughout the day, prominent researchers and representatives of leading national crime policy organizations working to develop and shape effective crime policy will give brief presentations on their priorities for the 110th Congress. Topics include: post-incarceration reentry, juvenile justice reform, gang violence and prevention, mandatory minimums and sentencing reform, alternatives to the criminal justice system and sentencing, Habeas Corpus Reform and Guantanamo Bay, racial profiling and racial aspects of criminal justice policy and law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

"Recent FBI reports indicate that crime is on the rise in some areas, despite all the ‘get tough' legislation we have passed in recent years," said Rep. Scott. "One of the problems is that we have passed legislation based on sound bites and slogans such as – ‘Three strikes, you're out,' ‘truth-in-sentencing,' and ‘ya' do the adult crime, ya' do the adult time' – without any assessment as to whether these approaches actually reduce crime. Now that we have had a chance to assess these policies, it is clear that they do not reduce crime, and may even have contributed to the increase in crime. I have invited more than 40 experts and advocates from around the country to come to Washington to discuss what approaches actually do work. After the two-day summit, I will draft legislation to implement these proven approaches."

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