FCFCLA

Thank you for participating in Juvenile Justice Week of Faith.  It was a great success!

To raed about the stories and events that took place, click here

Click here for Important Juvenile Justice Week of Faith Links and Handouts

JJ Week of Faith Endorsement Form (Print PDF copy) (Sign up on-line)

Dear Community Leader:                                             The first, most enduring responsibility of any society is to ensure the well-being of its children.

Sponsored by Faith Communities for Families and Children, Juvenile Justice Week of Faith is a call for faith communities to reach our most marginalized youth and to help them know that they are all children of God.

Juvenile Justice Week of Faith is an opportunity to unite with other faith communities to raise awareness to the needs of children and families impacted by violent crime and society's systemic resopnse to crime.

A key element to help end the cycle of violence in our communities is to address the layers of woundedness that carry on across generations in the lives of many of our youth.  Frequently, when wounds of violence go unattended they lead to rage, hatred and desires of vengeance.  This often translates into victims becoming offenders.  Our prisons are packed with people who were sentenced to life in prison while they were children, some as young as 14 years old.

If we are truly honest we must recognize that in many ways, our faith communities have failed in their responsibility to provide sanctuary for our children.  Juvenile Justice Sabbath is a challenge for faith communities to unite and excercise our moral authority and influence to supplant the retributive model of justice with a restorative one that reconciles and heals persons, faith communities, and society at large. 

On February 15th-21st, 2010, Faith Communities for Families and Children is encouraging faith-based leaders to draw attention to the plight of children who have been victims of violent crime, as well as incarcerated children by observing the Juvenile Justice Week of Faith.

We ask you to endorse the Juvenile Justice Week of Faith and participate in a unified call for action.  We hope that you will observe tihs Juvenile Justice Week of Faith by engaging your congregation, school or organization in this issue in whatever way is most appropriate for your community.  We have included an endorsement form (see below) which includes some examples of ways you can participate as well as a fact sheet that provides more insight into this issue.

 Sincerely,

Javier Stauring
Policy Director

Click here to see Endorsing Organizations

JUVENILE JUSTICE WEEK OF FAITH LINKS AND HANDOUTS

Please view:  "God Cries When We Sentence Children to Die in Prison"

JJ Week of Faith Endorsement Form (Print PDF copy) (Sign up on-line) 

Please post and distribute flyers - Save the Date Flyer

Children Tried as Adults Fact sheet, CA

Juvenile Justice Fact Sheet, CA

The Blood Offering of Our Children: An Interfaith Reflection on Life Sentences for Youth

 JJ WEEK OF FAITH PRAYERS:

Christian Prayers of the Faithful  |  Oraciones de los Fieles

JJ Week of Faith Jewish Prayer

JJ Week of Faith Restorative Justice Prayer

Prayer for Children 

Prayer for Justice