The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act: A Dangerous New Chapter in the War on Black Youth

From the introduction:

“This brief offers context on the youth criminalization crisis in the United States. We then outline a series of harmful elements in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Specifically, we review provisions that:

• Increase funding for threat assessments, surveillance, and greater police presence in schools;

• Expand data-sharing between law enforcement and mental health providers, risking youth privacy rights; and

• Reinforce racial bias and take other ineffective approaches to reduce gun violence. In addition, this brief provides recommended actions that Congress, federal agency leaders, and community advocates can take to mitigate these harms.

For a full analysis of the key mental health provisions in the BSCA, a timeline of expected implementation, and recommendations for mental health policies that center equity, read our sister brief: The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act: Wins for Mental Health Undermined for Black and Brown Youth.”