It is with profound disappointment that we read the selective and inflammatory comments by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office concerning our client-partner (“A Philly teen who wanted to be a terrorist bomb maker had conducted explosive tests near his house, authorities say”). At the Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project, we work every day with young people alleged to have committed serious crimes.  It goes without saying that the charges against this young person are very serious.  We don’t have to be proud of every choice a child makes to know they are still a child, and deserve to be treated that way.

In a recent Philadelphia Magazine op-ed, former mayoral candidate and City Council member Allan Domb congratulated the new Mayoral Administration for the significant decrease in crime, crediting the appointment of Kevin Bethel as Police Commissioner. But there’s a critical piece of the story that’s missing: the downward trend in crime, including youth crime, began well before Mayor Parker or Commissioner Bethel took office. According to The Pew Charitable Trust’s 2024 State of the City Report, homicides have decreased by 27% since 2021—a decline that started years before this administration’s tenure.

In a recent episode of “Returning Citizens: Life Beyond Incarceration” featuring YSRP, host Paul Butler focuses on the historical implications of trying and sentencing youth as adults. The episode, entitled “Testimony,” explores what happens when we challenge the system to think big about the futures of all young people, regardless of the decisions they have made, rather than funneling children into a system of unfair punishment.

Following a recent increase in incidents of gun violence among Philadelphia’s youth, Fox29’s Kelly Rule welcomed representatives and advocates from the juvenile justice sector for a special segment: SOS: Juvenile Justice. Among them was Kevin Bethel, who was sworn in as Police Commissioner in January under the Parker Administration.

Philadelphia, PA – December 2023 – The Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project (YSRP) is proud to announce its partnership with the Philadelphia 76ers Assist for Safe Communities initiative. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to addressing the critical issue of gun violence and the need for mental health support in Philadelphia.