WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is the world’s largest membership organization of police executives that provides the professional voice of law enforcement and is comprised of numerous agencies that serve jurisdictions including closed communities such as the military, university, and college campuses; and

WHEREAS, the impact of juvenile crime on military installations impacts both the military and civil communities physically, emotionally, and operationally and corrupts the safety and security of these communities; and

WHEREAS, under current jurisdictional alignment most juveniles with significant criminal behavioral issues are removed from military installations and relocated into our civilian communities further burdening the juvenile justice system, law enforcement, and community services and victimizing citizens. This initiative enables a community approach to collectively address and resolve current and future juvenile criminal activities; and

WHEREAS, adoption of concurrent jurisdiction for juveniles on military installations facilitates early engagement of juveniles through diversion programs and rehabilitation and ensures victims are not denied justice; and

WHEREAS, military installations must establish community trust and effectively and comprehensively respond to reports of juvenile crime by supporting a victim-centered approach toward those who experience juvenile crime and a perpetrator-focused investigation to hold those who commit these offenses accountable; and

WHEREAS, military installations lack efficient and effective court venues to prosecute juvenile offenders, enter them into rehabilitation or diversion programs and associated service programs aimed at enabling them in becoming productive and successful members of society; and

WHEREAS, perpetrators of juvenile crime impact the entire community, on and off the installation, family life, organizational missions, service department readiness, schools learning, and safety and security of our neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, the military must identify process and procedure to enable the movement of juvenile crimes occurring on federal exclusive jurisdiction installations to local and state juvenile justice courts, programs and services to ensure the rule of law is properly executed for these crimes, perpetrators are held accountable and afforded the full range of services available to help them. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the IACP calls upon law enforcement leadership in the military, civilian communities, universities, and colleges to partner with each other in order to prioritize efforts to address juvenile crime prosecution and diversion and strengthen the response, prosecution, and assistance to these crimes perpetrators and victims that occur in our communities; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, to encourage our communities to pursue concurrent jurisdiction for juveniles on military installations to benefit the community at large, as well as the victims and the alleged juvenile offenders. This serves our citizens and the community who place their trust in the criminal justice establishment.

Submitted by: Civilian Law Enforcement/Military Cooperation Committee and the Defense Chiefs of Police Section

Co-sponsored by: Juvenile Justice & Child Protection Committee

CLE.21.19