Mr. Perrelli said; “We are here today because communities across the country face a reality that is simply unacceptable – our children are exposed to far more violence than I think most people realize and that is intolerable.”   He continued by stating that this initiative “has the potential to substantially change the lives of American children and families” especially since it is “a comprehensive approach to a pervasive problem.”  Presently communities have fragmented approaches that allow children exposed to violence to slip through the cracks of every service system. 

Quoting the Attorney General: “in America today – more than three out of five children have been exposed to crime, violence, or abuse – in their neighborhoods, in their schools, or in their own homes.  And almost forty percent of children have been direct victims of two or more violent acts.

“The statistics go on and on – and, unfortunately, so too does the violence.  The reality we face is nothing short of a crisis.  But through our demonstration sites – through each of you and your teams – we can, and we will, make breakthroughs in preventing, addressing, reducing, and more fully understanding this problem.  And, ultimately, we will succeed in identifying and applying the solutions that our children need and deserve.”

Some startling and sad statistics that hint at the longer-term effects of children exposed to violence were offered by Associate Attorney General Perrelli. “Children are more likely to be exposed to violence and crime than adults. For instance, a 2005 study showed that juveniles and young adults ages 12 to 19 were more than twice as likely to be the victims of violent crimes as the population as a whole. And we know that children who are exposed to violence are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, suffer from depression and anxiety, have problems in school, experience or perpetuate dating violence, and engage in criminal behavior later in life.”

“The Defending Childhood Initiative is not an effort to enable incremental change in a few neighborhoods.  Ultimately, we seek systemic change: the fundamental overhaul of broken social patterns that are threatening the safety – and limiting the prospects – of our children.  This demands that our efforts be comprehensive; and that we share information about both setbacks and progress.  And it requires us to work together to shine a light on a problem that impacts the future of our communities, and the lives of our children.”