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NewsLetter to the Los Angeles Times EditorCelebrities, those opposed to the death penalty, and hundreds of others joined in a media-led crusade recently to save Tookie Williams' life. But Tookie's life could only be saved about 40 years earlier. This last month of hand-wringing was far too little, and much too late.Sadly, thousands of today's at-risk youngsters are also heading in an anti-social, violent direction. But the last decade of rigorous, scientifically-randomized studies has confirmed that there are humane, and cost-effective answers. Answers that can turn lives around and ensure a path unlike Tookie Williams'. We know what to do. As Professor John R. Weisz, from the University of California, told a White House Conference: "MST, multisystemic therapy, has been used effectively to treat some of society's most serious conduct problems among delinquent children." In fact, MST cuts re-arrests in half and costs 40 percent less than incarceration. Historically, society's answer has been to take troubled youth from their homes and put them away in prison. But some day those prisoners will be released back into society and many of them will rape, steal and kill. We have shown them nothing better. And some of them, like Tookie, will be executed. If celebrities, the media and others want to avoid future executions, don't wait to plead for clemency. Join together to support programs that work - programs that can help our children veer from a life of crime and unfortunate circumstances - programs like MST, Nurse-Family Partnership, Functional Family Therapy, Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care, and other evidence-based delinquency prevention programs. Frank Ryan California Communications Director Evidence-Based Associates Altadena, CA 91001 |
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© 2008 Evidence-Based Associates