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Students and young people press Utah senators for prevention funding and alternatives to incarceration
Summary
Students and two young men who identified as gang members told the Senate about violent incidents and daily safety fears near Jackson Elementary, urging at-risk funding, school resource officers and prevention programs rather than expanded detention facilities.
A delegation from Jackson Elementary and two young men who identified as gang members asked Utah senators on Oct. 12, 1993, to invest in prevention, tutoring, school-based counselors and community alternatives rather than relying solely on incarceration.
Principal Marilyn Phillips and PTA president LaDon McNeil described a 34-page police report detailing crimes near Jackson Elementary and thanked the Senate for at-risk funding and Project HOPE support. Volunteer coordinator Holly Krumbaugh said partnerships with Unisys and the Salt Lake City Police Department bring tutors and off-duty officers into school programs but said the school needs additional resources, including funds toward a part-time school resource officer—a request the principal tied directly to the safety of children.
Several students offered direct testimony. Sixth-grader Tanya Reuter said, "I'm scared to go in my front yard at night alone because I might get shot by gangs or I might get kidnapped." Alexander Churchworth told senators he sees graffiti and gang members near his home and asked that the neighborhood be made safer. Nikia Kaiser described finding broken beer bottles and people passed out near school, and Andrea Cook recounted finding a syringe near campus and said the incidents make students afraid to walk home.
Senators thanked the students and noted past legislative responses to student-led campaigns, including graffiti and school-zone measures. Senator Barrett encouraged the delegation to stay involved and offered an example of a student re-enrolled in school after work by the senator and principal produced a solution.
Later, two young men who identified themselves as Kex and Jonathan spoke to the body about why they joined gangs and what could help: protection, respect, educational opportunities, job training, and programs targeted to younger children. Kex described being marked as a gang member after wearing certain colors at school and said many join for protection. Jonathan said he joined at 12 or 13 and urged alternatives to incarceration—‘‘Give them alternatives. Give them some reason to live and give them some reason to wanna go on for the next day,’’ he said.
Senators and staff asked questions about truce models and community programs. Several suggested mediation or task-force approaches and emphasized that solutions would require sustained funding for education, job training and youth services. Senators noted while stricter laws and detention were part of the response, prevention and reintegration programs would be needed to reduce recidivism and improve long-term outcomes.
What happens next: The Committee of the Whole dissolved and senators returned to the floor; members said they would continue to consider funding and programmatic responses when they resume budget and policy discussions.
