OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Providence City Council Meeting - June 9, 2026: Juvenile Hearing Board Expansion Ordinance

City CouncilTuesday, June 9, 2026
BodyProvidence, Rhode Island
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, June 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:30:50
Transcript — Verbatim
30:05

Thank you, Mr.

30:09

This audience.

30:15

And I say that this is the reason why this one introduced along with other colleagues to protect our things of all.

30:24

Since then, general students has been also as a document with waiting to be signed by the public.

30:53

Question.

30:57

So please after yes, or is it well?

31:05

So it wasn't yes, I wasn't done in the state law on the web requirements in law to see in town to have to um disposal season town in January 2008.

31:19

However, this would be probably editing.

32:03

Maybe it's actually names, please have thank you.

32:08

Um I'd like to also uh motion to uh take some items on board uh motion.

32:18

So uh we'll take the item uh of uh public comment for example.

32:34

There's uh motion by uh school and second by council.

32:42

Any further discussion?

32:51

Thank you.

32:52

Everybody all in favor?

32:59

Thank you.

33:00

Um before it's a public comment on the issue before is anyone signed up to speak ahead of the eye of that what do they have to do?

33:40

Thank you.

33:41

If you want to ask me that if you would like to speak anything that's you can uh step forward it and uh sign it.

33:56

I see um basically that's what we're just well asking the micro standard.

34:10

The first person for us to speak on the public comment is there.

34:21

Well is data.

34:28

What I will say.

35:03

Good afternoon.

35:04

My name is Alison Barry speaking on behalf of the Jupiter Board Ordinance of the School Art of But I just want to say that we meet the city council.

35:15

Like I said, my name is Alan Savera, and I am senior high school, I think we're on the along with that.

35:34

Um I can testify and support less important related to the report because this could help as many people that takes you from that takes you with color.

35:47

That's an extent of that taking color or even general from school from school straight to incarceration.

35:55

Youth should be given the chance to correct mistake or wrongdoing through sort of practices rather than human punishments.

36:02

It will allow them to continue to rise with that same director that is not reflecting the opportunity for youth and providence should be allowed to be considered holistically one another to help them change their lives either.

36:17

Also, removing the police removing the power from the police labor historically authority, the disapproach experiment, and on my community would be a huge step forward in dismantling what the ACLD calls the school hype, which they define as a systemic train for children, particularly youth, particularly youth and markers communities or disabled youth, are funded out of the public school and into the juvenile and justice systems.

36:50

It is driven by these calls, it's driven by certain house policies and increased increased in school policy policing and the proposation of the whole adults of the I also care to deliver testimonies on behalf of other youth leaders of us.

38:12

If you want to give you the resources to the ground, then they should not be forced to suffer wrongful.

38:33

It would not be fair to send you directly to the board since that is only right.

38:38

It is important to give mine with the opportunity to make up for the mistakes without working on the level.

38:48

And lastly, uh we're on the central studies and automatically juvenile report to ensure that just be scalable by system design of the month.

39:01

And when it's harsh long-term functions and impact on your personal future, I'm also practicing that.

39:17

If you have a great standard.

40:01

I'd like to first thank the sponsors of these proposed events by the councilmate sketch.

40:10

I also extend my thanks to the rest of the council who showed up today as part of the recommendations for this digital.

40:18

Thank you for being here.

40:21

As a life of all the problems present passional solutions, and second action, I had the privilege of serving the city in several capacities.

40:31

I am here today, however, to share testimony as a former member of the Province 2, also known as the GHP, which I first joined after 2016 during its resurrection.

40:45

And later on this year to 2005.

40:51

2017 was a time when there was real concerns about whether it's more as well.

40:56

With the city beliefs and capabilities, and our efforts were keeping improved for four.

41:03

I remember when our collaboration of the city council wasn't very interesting.

41:09

And how much of our partnership of the police department has improved over these last few years.

41:15

And here we are maybe a career and change these problems.

41:20

And we have found ourselves at a bit of a cross-production, and I believe we'll determine whether we change more team on the character of success.

41:30

So I want to ask you all a question.

41:33

Tell me that you never have such a chance at any life.

41:39

Tell me that it's given the opportunity to go back and change this one.

41:45

The problem is to each mean uh first of all is the redemption to keep here that uh can only be made possible to present action.

41:55

And that the promise change we asked as a simple bookground question is like that what is instead of the process of young people for assistance design work.

42:05

We instead brought them for their neighbors for people who know the city, above the city, and believe that other people deserve a chance to make things work.

42:15

I have seen firsthand the difference this process, not just for their families, the communities, and frankly, but volunteers like myself who served.

42:26

There is something powerful that happens when a young person comes across the table and sees people who look like them, who live near them, and who leave them.

42:37

That is not something important if you're never working, nor should eligibility to appear toward the GHB be left up to the sole discretion of any one person.

42:48

Which is exactly why I pressed on this issue back in 25, alongside my company, the current chair for your partners.

42:58

Thank you.

42:59

Right now, the school cases that you refer to the J is narrow, which means that our problems use that young people who can benefit from this process are step on into a system that is not built within mind.

43:12

And my personal opinion in every case that I asked with this board is a misopportunity.

43:19

I truly believe that expand virtual authority is clear, objective criteria must be required of a solution.

43:26

So I'm asking to get that on this.

43:28

I'm asking to trust the process that is already proved itself to you.

43:32

I'm asking you to trust the community members who volunteer in time to make all the work and asking you to trust prominence to have people because that trust extended right on it can change the entire trajectory of the life.

43:48

The juvenile report has been this intervention for our reason.

43:53

So with that, I'm asking you to expand inspiration and chance to all that it was meant to be to the safe work, not people.

44:51

So when I when I see something like this, it's part of my soul, uh, is something that's full of my new idea.

45:02

So I'm just I don't want to be walking up to what I have on the state for that two minutes.

45:21

You know, create possible solutions.

45:40

I have the opportunities to watch young people and their parents and they work in difficult situations and take responsibility for mistakes they have made.

46:04

Many of these are not fine with someone pressure, others are something we do at the moment.

46:23

But these consequences we face for life change.

46:26

It seemed like everything was a few young people to just want to mistake or that decision or the influence of the world.

46:38

As a as I got older, I began to notice that in more health communities.

46:43

Young people often have access to resources, support systems, and opportunities that allow them to learn from their mistakes rather than being minded by them.

46:53

What we now call restorative justice and useful moments were available to them in ways they often are not available to many other people I know.

47:03

I often think about how many people, young men and women that might have benefited from this opportunity.

47:12

Two minutes would know on just the system because of one decision.

47:18

For some persons who actually became several that followed them for years.

47:27

I'm not happy for the young people who refuse to be responsible for the actions.

47:32

What I am happy for is for the young people who deserve a chance to learn from I let you guys have one two minutes, and you guys have a little paper.

47:45

Um I have to get this no brain as well.

47:49

Thank you.

47:57

I said how we have uh something.

48:19

Um I think it's very students that have one part and also organization as well.

48:35

Um I don't think I'm not too at the moment, how many official has been step up in that scare that they only judge me something to think of me?

49:02

Very important is key when it comes to writing things today.

49:06

And I'm not interested to want to use the program called C and if I change students, how can these hands for our skilled average emotional?

49:24

I feel like someone can have the chair.

49:32

Many of the GH students have a direct thing.

49:42

One parent she got her daughter back and she doesn't think every daughter then she's a couple.

49:50

But in the end, she got her daughter back to.

49:54

And yes, that's been a good time to I agree that's really different.

50:01

So yes, I can process a J online team crossed to the stuff.

50:09

Thank you very much.

50:25

And then we really like high school.

50:30

And you know, it's always some special.

50:37

And just a full circle won it for the case manager to work in non-profit and to be given back to the city.

50:46

And so I'm still happy for you.

50:48

Keep up with it for you on the eastern question.

51:02

Well, I was uh I was gonna go before and then I was the message called uh social worker.

51:11

So I mean T white test for you to come back.

51:23

All right, is any problems that uh is here to my testimony and any other those uh okay um the next item that uh uh is to item uh number three is level two or we will make a word called person uh we already made already uh the motions that we take on board so I think I think I'm gonna I don't agree because you have a thing that I have with S uh 100 I think that's change the trouble is currently to uh many of them uh better peers and so uh this resolution is asking uh the patient to uh read uh uh to the post uh the cuts and uh we'd actually do uh services provided to providers uh and also those services being provided to our five.

53:03

So that's uh any other comments, questions, you know, but uh present also can you react to the staff and so you see that you thank you.

53:30

Yeah, she doesn't have to work with the um and then what we do for what you are.

53:40

I think that's uh we can do it to our first and we hear the voices especially around uh school by uh so uh motion to approve what should have been by the rest of my centers and by uh discussion uh number four.

54:23

I don't know, there's a thing doesn't mean what you guys can do in the hospital eight, every one.

54:41

Thank you.

54:44

Um I can call our channel.

54:51

I'm sorry, question that's okay.

55:00

Yes, I would probably go to the changes.

55:04

So it's this is on the item um item number four.

55:09

Um resolution for the faster than 2046.

55:17

One related to faster false meaning is that we have the things.

55:25

Yes.

55:26

So I think we discussed previously the question that was a test is the promise as a version of the person and you know your marching needs.

55:37

Um to require that uh property are we that problem.

55:45

Um that is the state of useful, but um because it has a requirement also we're also uh sexy actually out for basically all you know to move forward publicly, you know the question where it is well, you know, these specific and the uh jurisdictions.

56:11

So it's it's expanded to my day, it's along the same line uh this hasn't been passed out.

56:19

Um as you know that any questions from um I just uh okay, question comes over.

56:45

Do we still want to send copies of this resolution once that's gonna find out the call is it?

56:59

Yeah, I think that uh you know when we submit uh we've got the resolutions and uh you're still receiving it, it's just the copies that are uh side of my uh uh city um and also we have wrong that they were trying to be able to.

57:23

Any other questions?

57:31

Is there a motion push through I there is a motion by consuming sensors?

57:39

Uh Peterson discussions and now uh now we will go to item last time on the cover, uh and then we'll take this uh motion on the board.

58:13

Peter says that's been words and then discussing that uh favor uh motion characters.

58:23

Now before it's back to speaking on this inside of the straight as we would.

58:38

Thank you, Melbourne.

58:39

Um speak to before you um this need to uh if you have a motion to uh have substitute A the motion has been moved by second by council and so on.

59:18

Any uh discussion.

59:21

See that's in favor?

59:24

Any of the second A exactly now before that's item number two, subject to the A.

59:30

Consensus.

59:31

Thank you, Chairman, but it is such as uh counselor.

59:40

Um this item is very near near to it.

59:48

Um like CJ mentioned earlier.

59:51

We've all been given second chances.

59:54

Um I'm gonna get a second chance.

59:56

I've been given 10 15 chances at life.

1:00:00

And you know, I'm thankful for that.

1:00:02

My mom always did instill in us at this point.

1:00:07

We were successful, we played in life.

1:00:10

Well, you know, there's also a lot of learning opportunities.

1:00:13

I have learned a lot and I've had uh multiple chances to learn.

1:00:17

And I'm thinking for the people in my life growing up and to this day, uh, for giving me uh you know the compassion, the empathy uh for human beings in no matter what my image is uh to keep uh fighting fighting like that.

1:00:36

That's one way I say.

1:00:38

Um so when my first became over Jimmy work before I read for office, I thought this was a great uh opportunity, great service.

1:00:49

Um to make sure that I look sorry.

1:00:52

This is uh state law that's an idea that gives uh every single city and town 39 cities and towns here or not to have a junior airport.

1:01:02

And most cities and towns actually have one, um, whether they're active or not, or as efficient and as um why you arrange it in terms of uh actually making referrals, that's another question.

1:01:18

Um but before I started, I definitely want to give a big shout out to our city council staff, uh especially uh WISA and our director of constituent services, uh Melissa Cruz uh have done tremendous amount of work uh internally uh to get uh the juvenile beard to where they have been uh the last few years.

1:01:40

Uh making sure there's enough quorum, but the board is important.

1:01:44

Uh it is a 15 member board.

1:01:46

Right now, there's uh 12 uh members on it.

1:01:49

Um so they have a lot of capacity, and that's what brings us here today.

1:01:54

Is that in my opinion, and we have the residents to back it up on that which I show up here a bit.

1:02:00

Our police department is not uh fully utilizing uh the Juan Auger board, and that really really hurts uh my heart at the end of the day.

1:02:10

This is young people in our city uh not getting an opportunity that in my opinion that they have right to.

1:02:19

Um there currently isn't any uh standards when it comes to uh the technique on the uh meeting referral to Jim and I don't to the General Airport.

1:02:31

It's all discretionary.

1:02:32

And while we you know trust and support other members of our police apartment, um we're all humans, we all make mistakes and you know when you get a ton of vision on a work that you do, uh you sometimes lose uh you know the goal in mind and that goal in my opinion of all of us as public servants, including police officers, uh should be to make the city uh a more safer uh accountable uh city for all of us.

1:03:01

And when we are denying another person an opportunity uh such as this one, uh to either go into the justice system that all of you are very aware once you are religious system, uh barriers in life that might impact you here as taking a toll.

1:03:22

And uh barriers only get bigger and bigger uh the more time that you interact with the justice system.

1:03:30

So I have to uh you know, send a young person that you know not to uh downplay any of the actions because at the end of the uh they didn't commit an action at the happening in the first place, which is important to acknowledge.

1:03:47

But if there's an opportunity for a young person to appear before the board uh with people that like have been speaking today, people that have uh grown up in the city that have called province for decades that work at these very respected community partner nonprofits uh to come up with plan that doesn't involve uh handcuffs and jail cells.

1:04:14

Um it's extremely important that we do everything that we can as a public service uh to offer and mandate that ability, that opportunity to as much young people as possible.

1:04:26

Um so like I started uh and in my comments.

1:04:29

We we do have something that we're making up in terms of the lead.

1:04:35

Um I'm gonna speak uh specifically the last three years.

1:04:38

Um active since 2017.

1:04:43

Um but since we've taken off this here in 2023, uh my opinion and the other shared backs it up is that we are making uh a lot of kids who have an opportunity.

1:04:56

So I'm gonna go for some numbers and then um definitely whether to take you in the questions.

1:05:03

Uh so in 2023, 379 people uh were arrested in the city province.

1:05:10

Out of those 379, um 115 should have been referred to the general year report.

1:05:20

Unfortunately were sent uh to the general report.

1:05:24

In the 2024, 300 were uh arrested.

1:05:28

Um, 205 uh shouldn't have been sent to the general report.

1:05:35

Uh only 33 uh to the general report.

1:05:40

In 2025 uh last year, 331 people were arrested in city provides, and 138 should have been referred to the gym accuracy report, but only 27 board.

1:05:55

Um so like I said, this isn't something that uh you know where we're making up on the flat we have the evidence of back up uh this very important need.

1:06:05

Uh so I really appreciate uh you know this council or staff uh Liza who is the JP coordinator for the city council uh to get us to this point, uh all the members that uh serve on the Junior Report um are more than ready and willing.

1:06:25

This is something that we've heard of people uh stepping on some of the CJs mentioned in the past and other folks is that there is a big gap in the numbers that are not getting referred uh to the juvenile report.

1:06:40

So we're doing this ordinance is making it very black and white on what eligibility requirements um are needed uh for someone to be sent to the juvenile year board.

1:06:53

And we are outlining that to this ordinance by uh explaining who uh should not be.

1:07:00

So of course, if you make a domestic uh violence charge, you will not be referred to a juniper report.

1:07:07

If you may uh solve it at that, you will not be referred to a juvenile report.

1:07:13

And there's a couple more amendments that folks are gonna have to be to read um the guy to means a little bit more uh at the end of the day, uh we are you know implementing or proposing a policy that it doesn't matter who is working, what kind of data you have, what kind of stresses in their life, that they will have a piece of paper to look at and see, okay, this kid or this young person committed X, Y, and Z prime.

1:07:39

Do I send them to the Juvenile Board?

1:07:41

They don't have to think about anything else in life.

1:07:43

All they need to look at is the ordinance or the policy and make that decision.

1:07:48

Um that's what's really worrying.

1:07:49

We as elected officials, uh, we don't want to propose policies that are relying on a certain individual reading and a position.

1:07:57

We want to propose an implement and uh support policies uh that are fair, that are just um, such as as the juvenile report uh is intended to do.

1:08:09

Um and there is still uh some discretion for uh the chief or his uh destiny uh to make.

1:08:17

If this is something uh that you know says that this uh person is not automatically eligible, uh the chief or his design, and the detective on staff uh you know knows more information and is willing to go above and beyond uh of that eligibility process, then they still want to have that opportunity.

1:08:39

So we still are making our police officers and chief and detective uh some discretionary, uh put on the other side uh of the coin, um, which is really important in my opinion because we don't want to limit uh any uh possible uh referrals uh where there might be some uh positive uh discretion.

1:09:00

Um so that's all I have to share.

1:09:02

Uh like I said, I'm super passionate about this because I have been given uh a lot of chances and you know, so to be in a position like this, is this you know something I think about every day?

1:09:14

I'm so grateful to serve with uh amazing colleagues, uh all like yourselves I'm gonna so commit, of course, um our policy staff that is um so helpful um to get us to this point.

1:09:28

Um so I'm happy to take any questions um or comments, uh but this is where I'm I'm not questions for engaging.

1:09:42

Thank you.

1:09:44

Um GSP, what's the existing criteria that still have like half the case?

1:10:00

questions um or comments uh but this is where we're I have questions if you guys are engaging uh presentation uh so thank you can I ask that one question um data that I have um um we were getting the um that's earlier and the 379 and then five should be um says that the JSP what what's the existing criteria that like still cut out like how it is yeah um so I'm gonna see this why I don't check your yeah so the larger numbers uh that that the costume listed uh is the number um arrested who are eligible it's a state law for referral the smaller it's numbers was the number uh junior house were actually referred uh because right now it's just like description of the detective is on duty at a time of the press there's no specific criteria covering that either by city law who are police policy is just to the officer and then for the larger digit numbers that's just like there are certain fences in the city or in the state law that say you don't get something correct.

1:10:59

Yeah like L said has been I think I'll tell you I uh chair I just want to start with Consortif you are the example of um when someone gets second chances in life we are in the center so just one say that first second is um I think we're gonna catch this but I need uh uh another explanation uh when we when you say that they should have been referred to the um juvenile hearing work are we saying that that those those crimes were incorporated and therefore uh the officer because of that she should have referred it to put the email here or is that correct?

1:12:01

Right.

1:12:01

And so and the full transparency uh uh the real time period uh that's been uh a huge uh disappointment but you know I I've never been shy to hold words back but it's extremely disappointing um is night time there is uh almost uh zero to nurses coming in uh from night time arrest um which those folks are those young kids um who would still be eligible um if they were you know arrested uh average primary comments later um so so that's uh one of the uh very clear time periods uh that we have labels what's a lot of throughout this process uh one question uh part of my increments can't sort of um not that and I'm not defending this at all this is like I'm sure it's not uh the the sole reason at all but um is is the is the uh workload to refer a young person to um J H D is it overly bureaucratic where it decencies all offices you can do that it might be of course on the variables as to why it was happening like what's that process look like was the documentation that people work on that yeah it it's nothing more um obviously jump in with anything by missing thing um but it but it it's not a lot more uh bureaucratic people than uh any other normal uh rest um any arrest there's uh a lot of people were uh to be done regardless um the the really you know positive thing that I tried one time to see it is that our uh team you know does a lot of uh day-to-day uh scheduling meetings uh meeting with families on the wise of you all are very familiar with um so I don't think um obviously you're more than welcome to ask uh police officers directly um but that's not a concern that we've ever had um I think we have never seen that um as a primary concern um because if that was something then we would obviously be here making a benefits to fix that and make it more efficient um I know that's a little years um that's been very much on my question um here's maybe my question works that's not our team would be able to come answer this but um can we understand why I mean I'm trying to understand why we only have such small amounts of cover order for that we've had this opportunity available um for a lot of three years.

1:15:20

Yeah, so obviously no, I can't speak directly on why uh that they're doing it from what we've seen, and you know, we've have tried uh to immediately our uh police leadership and administration on this uh full transparency, those conversations have not been uh very productive, I think one would say.

1:15:44

Um at the end of the day, what I heard from various different officers is that they are making uh discretionary decision.

1:15:54

Um what that actually means, um, it's a case-by-case basis, and in their eyes is what I prefer.

1:16:02

Um, but in my opinion that you know, create or has the potential uh to put us in a position of that period.

1:16:09

All it takes is one person uh having personal maybe that they don't believe in second chancellors or maybe you know, we're having a bad day instead of following uh what my opinion is is the just uh decision.

1:16:25

Um maybe it's easier to uh you know not have to do um be part of that process because for my understanding detectives are still part of uh the process once they do get referred to the German Lord.

1:16:42

Um that's a question that we know we can keep exploring.

1:16:47

Um but what I will say is that I've seen and heard enough uh to start acting on it, and that's kind of what we're actually you know, we respect and we'll always work later with every single city department, but we are going to hear these positions by province residents, and that's who we work for, and we're seeing something that isn't benefiting the people at presenting these positions and we're not doing the job.

1:17:15

I think that's where we're at today, uh councilwoman.

1:17:19

Um I guess um today is I think um wrapping for this job and working with that this week for everybody.

1:17:33

Um I was thinking where kids were doing the second, third, fourth thing.

1:17:39

This happened, but that we should probably not do and um there's hundreds of studies that show that programs like means um we can execute it properly prevent due to that and so that's that we need to be able to do this where we must think this is just one main thing that we can do that I think that um meeting I think here in this in this particular space is exactly what we need to meet.

1:18:11

So I really want to put this on this.

1:18:14

Um I do hope that with these changes we can actually see some of that um those opportunities we give um to our junior gravity more quickly, and I think we have encouraged our um our police department to really take the initiative to do this for uh for the meeting.

1:18:40

I think it's uh really good.

1:18:45

The last thing I really have to say is that this is this is something that's happening across different municipalities um where uh city officials or elected officials, um community members, people on journal works are asking the exact same question.

1:19:01

Uh so I I think we are uh you know definitely leading by uh committing to these revisions.

1:19:09

Um it's like anything else, you know, uh word test where law gets proposed.

1:19:14

Um, you know, it benefits some people years pass by proof system so we get a different um juvenile airport board members that you know have different things and we you know look back at our dances and reflect uh this is doing uh the people of confidence uh web was an intention.

1:19:34

And I think we're at this point right now.

1:19:36

Um I've had started to have conversations with different state reps and consentors around this topic, um, possibly uh make amendments to state law.

1:19:46

Um but I think we are advocating on the web by having this conversation and more importantly, uh proving and making it to law uh these amendments.

1:19:58

Thank you.

1:19:59

Any other questions?

1:20:00

doing uh the people confidence uh web was an intention I think we're at this point right now um I've had started to have conversations with different state reps and consenters around this topic um possibly uh making amendments to state law um but I think we are ever being on the web by having this conversation and more importantly uh grouping and making it to law uh these amendments thank you any other questions I was thinking of constant uh how much it's well would like to uh see the books and thank you so that's what you question uh just a quick um comment on two things one of course one is just a sense priority to the number and just for sponsoring this ordinance and these and then this to be all right um change out um um I just two things one is uh you heard such one testimony and I especially want to take the senior class one was graduate mark coming out and your testimony is making that just knowledge that we at least bring together like tens of thousands of dollars and like some work which are things for our guests have libraries these are the types of things that like we can give kids other opportunities for doing outside school and like staying on top you want to spend tens of hundreds of millions of dollars per year on this can this is not an intent of reasoning it's just like we're spending money and acknowledgement just a little bit of extra um our kids um this city and I also just see first hand someone who tells a white person and went to uh you know colleges can do a lot of folks quite a number of folks who have had scrapes of the law and got out of it because they were given second chances because they were white because they can feel privilege and they're now doctors and employers that have amazing careers um and no increase about capacity sheets yeah because they really have that second chance um so many people that are here not given a second chance because their parents aren't doctors and players but their parents are not white and it's just it's climate um so it's just really great call to custom chest once the present hearing these numbers 155 should have been like 38 for the bird or 2005 should have been 33 order like it breaks in the heart that's so many kids who can have the system they need to just be the ones it could just be on the basic eyes and that way somebody could look at their eyes and like I see in person I know I like so um just entered this evening to go guess on it.

1:22:53

Thank you because we're going to use the now I just actually have a question um our team would be transferred we've talked a little bit about democracy but um that's like two uh the projects uh should not sort of geographic work are one hundred percent or very close to one side of what the ground in the city um which is a near function uh maybe we're still thank you thank you um I uh like to uh double down on the comments that my colleagues have to sit here help me to reflect what you uh it's the story about having second chances uh within itself and knowing uh we might go all that uh as we say no one's perfect um so uh young people that's also not having uh very voice uh representation council and the state uh and looking and hearing the numbers that has been scientists uh illustrated was the we first time I got myself involved um whether it was through the advocacy uh of uh the community I see kind of narratives here and also through the organization that were advocates uh for the youth and for I also think um how back in the company were to look back in 2005 2006 where none of this existed none of them kids were just uh resident for jumping fence and if you say that now and we see it's what we believe that kids uh young people uh for some reason are slightly moving their hand on this recently police officer there was a straight through TJ sent to the ACI I mean to the training school and that's

1:25:04

None of them.

1:25:06

Kids were just uh arrested for jumping defense.

1:25:10

And if you say that to me now and we see it so we believe that kids uh young people uh for some reason are slapping moving their hands on the side of the police officer, they were straight to GJ, sent to the ACI, I mean to the training school.

1:25:29

And that's where I got my style in terms of fighting young people to have a voice.

1:25:38

And I was finding more so when I was sitting classroom with young people like one of you, uh keeping those in mind that I said I don't have to invite that fight so far because all of us kill.

1:25:54

All of us kill.

1:25:55

When some of us go to the kids' club breakfast, we see and we connect with people that make the picture of our demographics about young people, and I will tell you from Slater, the father, tell us later now.

1:26:14

At that time, very far from the to keep kids out of jail, and you keep the passion.

1:26:26

In fact, we stopped to numbers back in the day when we saw 225 kids in the uh training school.

1:26:40

And back in those days, the cost to house the training, young people, a young person in the trade school, over 100,000 per year.

1:26:51

And just last year, when I spoke to the director of the training school, there were only less than 50 kids in the training school.

1:27:00

So the work that's been done by the Robin for community trusted for these code non-violence has paid off.

1:27:12

The word coming in today and continue to fight for the young people.

1:27:17

Not only does it make sense for keep our kids out of jail, keep our kids out of the pipeline, because once they go into the training school, I got family members, and we all got family members, but maybe not now that they missed that opportunity.

1:27:35

They joined that they became uh smarter and more enthusiastic to be in the street and became gang members, and became and they missed those opportunities to live a rich stuff.

1:27:49

So I wanted to just um remind everyone, that I remind you, but uh is the impact that you have had as an organization and us as a city council now, and people get involved, that the future and that what you're doing here today and getting it out is that we're gonna continue to reduce those youth going into uh the training schools and giving them giving them that opportunity to try.

1:28:25

And lastly, it's through the police.

1:28:28

The police department is totally different than 2005-2006, due to community policing, due to the employment.

1:28:36

And I can see that they get a scroll here today.

1:28:39

I'm sure that they also had concerns, but they also could understand that they would live somewhere.

1:28:47

That's because the police department have representation and understanding.

1:28:54

And as I like to say, no one needs to, no one wants to be regulated, including young people.

1:29:00

Police would all deliver through communication and understanding and compassion and think this uh this piece of uh legislation it continues to be in the right way as well.

1:29:12

Thank you to the sponsors and to all of you.

1:29:14

With that said, thank you.

1:29:20

And with that said, I'll put the minds of the testimony that we received and public comment.

1:29:28

There's uh a couple of lines that I need to see.

1:29:31

I'd like to take a look to uh introduce them in the right voice, are the council and in this question?

1:29:44

See none, or those in favor, and it's next to their things, these happen.

1:29:49

Now before us now, now before us, Consul Peterson.

1:30:05

The motion has been made by Council Moon Peterson.

1:30:11

Second by Council Moon Swan.

1:30:15

Any discussion?

1:30:17

See and none.

1:30:18

All those in favor?

1:30:20

Any abstention?

1:30:21

Any names?

1:30:23

The motion comes.

1:30:38

Second by Mass and Michael Sarches.

1:30:41

Any discussion maybe?

1:30:44

There is another decision.

1:30:47

All those in favor?

1:30:49

Any objection case?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Youth Programs████████████████████████████████████████40%
Public Safety██████████████████████████████30%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Racial Equity██████6%
Education█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Providence City Council Meeting - June 9, 2026: Juvenile Hearing Board Expansion Ordinance

The Providence City Council held a regular meeting on June 9, 2026, primarily to discuss and vote on a proposed ordinance expanding referrals to the Juvenile Hearing Board (JHB), a restorative justice alternative to traditional prosecution. Councilmembers and public speakers highlighted racial disparities in referrals and the need for objective criteria.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Alison Barry, speaking on behalf of the Jupiter Board Ordinance of the School Art, expressed full support for the JHB expansion, arguing it would help youth of color avoid the school-to-prison pipeline and allow them to correct mistakes through restorative practices rather than punitive measures.
  • Alan Savera, a senior high school student, testified in favor, stating that youth should be given a chance to make amends without harsh long-term consequences and called for removal of police from the school discipline process.
  • A former member of the JHB (the GHP) shared personal experience, emphasizing that the board's process is powerful when young people see community members who look like them. They urged the council to expand eligibility and trust the restorative process.
  • Multiple other speakers, including a parent and a social worker, shared stories of youth benefiting from second chances and urged passage of the ordinance.

Discussion Items

  • Juvenile Hearing Board Expansion Ordinance: Councilmember (likely Chest) presented statistics showing that in 2023, 379 youth were arrested in Providence; 115 were eligible for JHB referral under state law, but only a small fraction were actually referred. In 2024, 300 arrests occurred, 205 eligible, and only 33 referred. In 2025, 331 arrests, 138 eligible, and only 27 referred. These numbers indicate severe underutilization.
  • Councilmember Chest explained that current referral decisions are purely discretionary, leading to inconsistency and too many youth denied a second chance. The proposed ordinance establishes clear, objective eligibility criteria (excluding domestic violence and certain serious offenses) while retaining some discretion for the police chief. It also mandates referral for eligible cases.
  • Councilmember Chest noted that night-time arrests have almost zero referrals, and discussions with police leadership have been unproductive. He believes the ordinance will ensure fairness and remove bias from the referral process.
  • Other councilmembers voiced strong support, noting personal experiences with second chances, racial disparities in the justice system, and the cost savings of keeping youth out of the training school (detention). One councilmember remarked that many white youth with privilege receive second chances while youth of color do not.
  • Councilmember Peterson added that the JHB helps keep youth out of the school-to-prison pipeline and reduces the number of youth in the training school from 225 in past years to under 50 recently.

Key Outcomes

  • The council voted on the ordinance: a motion to approve was made by Councilmember Peterson and seconded by Councilmember Swan. After discussion, the motion passed with all in favor and no objections or abstentions recorded. The ordinance is now adopted.
  • Earlier in the meeting, a motion to take on board public comment was also approved unanimously.
  • Other items on the agenda (item number three regarding budget cuts and item number four relating to the 2046 plan) were discussed briefly but no final votes were recorded in the transcript.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you, Mr. This audience. And I say that this is the reason why this one introduced along with other colleagues to protect our things of all. Since then, general students has been also as a document with waiting to be signed by the public. Question. So please after yes, or is it well? So it wasn't yes, I wasn't done in the state law on the web requirements in law to see in town to have to um disposal season town in January 2008. However, this would be probably editing. Maybe it's actually names, please have thank you. Um I'd like to also uh motion to uh take some items on board uh motion. So uh we'll take the item uh of uh public comment for example. There's uh motion by uh school and second by council. Any further discussion? Thank you. Everybody all in favor? Thank you. Um before it's a public comment on the issue before is anyone signed up to speak ahead of the eye of that what do they have to do? Thank you. If you want to ask me that if you would like to speak anything that's you can uh step forward it and uh sign it. I see um basically that's what we're just well asking the micro standard. The first person for us to speak on the public comment is there. Well is data. What I will say. Good afternoon. My name is Alison Barry speaking on behalf of the Jupiter Board Ordinance of the School Art of But I just want to say that we meet the city council. Like I said, my name is Alan Savera, and I am senior high school, I think we're on the along with that. Um I can testify and support less important related to the report because this could help as many people that takes you from that takes you with color. That's an extent of that taking color or even general from school from school straight to incarceration. Youth should be given the chance to correct mistake or wrongdoing through sort of practices rather than human punishments. It will allow them to continue to rise with that same director that is not reflecting the opportunity for youth and providence should be allowed to be considered holistically one another to help them change their lives either. Also, removing the police removing the power from the police labor historically authority, the disapproach experiment, and on my community would be a huge step forward in dismantling what the ACLD calls the school hype, which they define as a systemic train for children, particularly youth, particularly youth and markers communities or disabled youth, are funded out of the public school and into the juvenile and justice systems. It is driven by these calls, it's driven by certain house policies and increased increased in school policy policing and the proposation of the whole adults of the I also care to deliver testimonies on behalf of other youth leaders of us. If you want to give you the resources to the ground, then they should not be forced to suffer wrongful. It would not be fair to send you directly to the board since that is only right. It is important to give mine with the opportunity to make up for the mistakes without working on the level. And lastly, uh we're on the central studies and automatically juvenile report to ensure that just be scalable by system design of the month. And when it's harsh long-term functions and impact on your personal future, I'm also practicing that. If you have a great standard. I'd like to first thank the sponsors of these proposed events by the councilmate sketch. I also extend my thanks to the rest of the council who showed up today as part of the recommendations for this digital. Thank you for being here. As a life of all the problems present passional solutions, and second action, I had the privilege of serving the city in several capacities. I am here today, however, to share testimony as a former member of the Province 2, also known as the GHP, which I first joined after 2016 during its resurrection. And later on this year to 2005. 2017 was a time when there was real concerns about whether it's more as well. With the city beliefs and capabilities, and our efforts were keeping improved for four. I remember when our collaboration of the city council wasn't very interesting. And how much of our partnership of the police department has improved over these last few years. And here we are maybe a career and change these problems. And we have found ourselves at a bit of a cross-production, and I believe we'll determine whether we change more team on the character of success.

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