Committee is told parents are key to stopping violence

From Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman and District Attorney Seth Williams to children's advocate Shelly Yanoff, speakers told a state Senate committee Monday that getting parents involved is crucial to reducing youth violence.

They praised Sen. Anthony H. Williams' proposed parent-accountability bill that would provide legal leverage to educate parents about their responsibilities and help stem juvenile crime. But some criticized the draft language and raised questions about sections calling for fines or jail time for some parents if their children commit crimes.

Yanoff, executive director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth, said her organization could find no studies showing that states with laws holding parents accountable saw a decrease in juvenile crime.

She made her comments during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Senate Bill 99 at Boys Latin of Philadelphia Charter School in West Philadelphia. The committee's chairman, State Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf, a Republican who represents parts of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, presided.

Williams, a West Philadelphia Democrat who is running for governor, introduced the bill in 2007, but it languished. Monday's hearing, he said, was scheduled before the recent Center City teen melees.

"Unfortunately . . . things have not gotten any better; they've gotten worse," Williams said. "There is too much responsibility being laid at the feet of government, teachers, principals, and administrators."

Parents, he said, are responsible for teaching children how to behave. He said educating parents how to do that was at the heart of his legislative proposal. Only those who refused to participate in mandated programs outlined in his bill could face third-degree misdemeanor charges and be subject to fines of up to $2,500 and a year in jail.

Williams emphasized that the bill was aimed at parents whose actions or negligence could be shown to be directly linked to their child's offenses. Parents who are involved and trying to make sure their children do the right thing would not be targeted, he said.

"Any parent out there who is a single parent, a struggling parent . . . this bill should not trouble you in the least," Williams said.

The portion of the bill that would require parents and guardians of youthful offenders to attend classes to improve parenting skills received the most praise.

Ackerman, who has begun a parent university to help city parents, said she supported classes where "negligent parents" can learn how to guide and control their children.

"If parents knew better, they'd do better," she said.

But several speakers, including Charles A. Williams 3d, director of the Center for the Prevention of School-Aged Violence, pointed out that parenting programs and violence-prevention efforts are cut from the state budget during economic downturns, including the current budget.

"If you want a decrease in violence, then you can't decrease prevention funding," he said.

Williams, who is also an assistant clinical professor at Drexel University, said such programs were sorely needed. From his work in city neighborhoods, Williams (no relation to the senator or district attorney) said he was "shocked and appalled at the marked lack of interest, commitment and positive support offered by some parents."

He added: "I'm fed up like you, Sen. Williams. I'm fed up like [Bill] Cosby. Come on parents, you can and must do more."

Afterward, Williams said that while he supported many provisions of S.B. 99 - including fining parents who fail to follow through on mandatory training - he opposed jail time.

Sen. Williams he would work to refine his proposal based on comments.