•HCON 227 IH 
Whereas the act of violence or the crime causes pain and dis-
ruption that can have lasting effects; 
Whereas statistics show that once an individual has experi-
enced, witnessed, or lived with violence, their likelihood of 
being victimized again, or becoming a perpetrator them-
selves increases significantly; 
Whereas research has shown that exposure to violence has 
damaging consequences for the physical and mental 
health of youth and their long-term functioning and well- 
being as adults; 
Whereas data suggests that more than 60 percent of the Na-
tion’s youth have been exposed to violence within the past 
year; 
Whereas studies have shown that increased rates of violence 
and unemployment are directly correlated; 
Whereas in September 2009, 133 metropolitan areas reported 
jobless rates above the national average; 
Whereas the rate of unemployment for minorities such as 
Black and Latino groups is nearly 20 percent; 
Whereas the number of crimes can be reduced if community 
members are taught crime prevention techniques and be-
come more involved in crime prevention activities; 
Whereas neighborhood crime contributes to community ne-
glect and disintegration; and 
Whereas numerous studies demonstrate the evidence-based 
prevention and intervention programs can reduce delin-
quency and serious juvenile crime: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That— 
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•HCON 227 IH 
(1) it is the sense of Congress that— 
(A) National Urban Crimes Awareness 
Week provides a special opportunity to educate 
the people of the United States about urban vi-
olence and to take steps to encourage the pre-
vention of urban violence, provide assistance, 
and support to crime victims; 
(B) it is appropriate to properly acknowl-
edge the more than 209,000 men and women 
who have been victims of urban violence in the 
United States each year, and to commend the 
efforts of survivors, volunteers, and profes-
sionals who work to prevent urban violence; 
(C) national and community organizations 
and private sector supporters should be recog-
nized and applauded for their work in pro-
moting awareness about urban violent crimes, 
providing information and treatment to victims, 
families, and survivors, and increasing the num-
ber of successful prosecutions of its perpetra-
tors; 
(D) public safety, law enforcement, and 
health professionals should be recognized and 
applauded for their hard work and innovative 
strategies to increase the percentage of violent 
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•HCON 227 IH 
urban crime cases that result in the prosecution 
and incarceration of the offenders; and 
(E) victim advocates and criminal justice 
professionals should be recognized, applauded, 
and encouraged for their work to establish ef-
fective programs as alternatives to incarcer-
ation, re-entry interventions for offenders who 
are completing sentences, and rehabilitation 
programs for offenders and victims alike; and 
(2) Congress— 
(A) strongly recommends national and 
community organizations, businesses in the pri-
vate sector, colleges and universities, and the 
media to promote through education and pre-
vention measures, awareness of violent urban 
crimes and strategies to decrease the incidence 
of these crimes; and 
(B) supports the goals and ideals of Na-
tional Urban Crimes Awareness Week. 
Æ 
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