Legislative advocacy and policy
Prevention before tragedy is essential
Weruché Inspires International advocates for stronger protection of children, and for institutions that act on warning signs before violence becomes irreversible.
Read the proposed ActGet involvedFirst advocacy document
In memory of Javits Frimpong
The Javits Frimpong Child Safety & Accountability Act
Javits Frimpong was 15 years old when he was shot and killed on his way to school in the Bronx in October 2026. He had moved from Ghana about a year earlier. His family has said he had been bullied at school, and the investigation is ongoing.
This proposed legislative framework is offered in his memory. Every child deserves to learn, travel and take part in community life free from credible threats, escalating intimidation and preventable violence.
About the initiative
A framework for protecting children
Weruché® Inspires International, Inc. is advancing this policy initiative in the belief that every child deserves to learn, travel and participate in community life free from credible threats, escalating intimidation and preventable violence. The proposed Act is an advocacy and legislative framework to strengthen the systems that respond when a child reports fear, threats, repeated targeting or other serious warning signs.
The legislative need
Serious incidents may be preceded by reports that are fragmented, insufficiently documented, treated in isolation, or not escalated when a pattern emerges. This proposal focuses on what responsible institutions should do when credible warning signs appear: document, assess, protect, preserve evidence, communicate appropriately, and refer suspected criminal conduct to the proper authorities.
Core protections
Five protections at the heart of the Act
Documentation
Formal recording of credible threats and serious safety concerns, with clear follow-up responsibility.
Pattern Review
Repeated incidents involving the same child or pattern of conduct must be assessed collectively for escalation.
Risk Assessment
Timely evaluation of immediate and continuing risks, including whether protective measures are necessary.
Safety Planning
Written, practical measures to protect a child facing a credible continuing risk of harm.
Evidence Preservation
Reasonable preservation of relevant reports, communications, surveillance materials, and other lawful evidence.
Proposed legislative framework
The Act in twelve sections
Select a section to read it.
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Javits Frimpong Child Safety & Accountability Act.”
2. Credible threat & serious safety concern
The Act would establish clear definitions for credible threats, repeated targeted conduct, and serious safety concerns, including escalating threats of physical harm, stalking, organized targeting, threats involving weapons, and other conduct indicating a heightened risk.
3. Mandatory documentation
Serious reports should be formally documented, including the date, nature of the concern, persons involved where known, prior related incidents, available witnesses, evidence, and the actions taken in response.
4. Pattern & escalation review
Responsible institutions should not automatically treat repeated reports as isolated incidents. Where a pattern exists, the totality of the conduct should be reviewed for frequency, severity, retaliation, escalation, planning, and other indicators of increased risk.
5. Child safety risk assessment
When a credible threat or serious safety concern is identified, an appropriate assessment should determine whether immediate or continuing protective measures, family notification, additional intervention, or referral to appropriate authorities is warranted.
6. Parent & guardian notification
Except where prohibited by law or where notification would create an immediate safety risk, parents or guardians should be promptly informed when a credible threat of serious physical harm to their child has been identified.
7. Written safety plans
Where a continuing credible risk exists, a documented safety plan may include supervision, safe arrival and departure procedures, separation measures, designated contacts, safety check-ins, and other practical protections.
8. Evidence preservation
Reasonable steps should be taken to preserve lawfully held and relevant evidence, including incident reports, written complaints, electronic communications, surveillance footage, photographs, and witness information, subject to privacy and applicable law.
9. Referral of suspected criminal conduct
When information reasonably indicates suspected criminal conduct or an immediate danger, notification or referral should be made to the appropriate authorities in accordance with applicable law. Nothing in the Act should interfere with due process, police investigations, or prosecutorial discretion.
10. Accountability for required duties
The proposal would establish mechanisms for administrative review where an authorized person or institution knowingly disregards a documented credible threat, intentionally falsifies or conceals a required report, unlawfully destroys relevant evidence, or knowingly or recklessly fails to carry out a legally required safety procedure.
11. Family & victim support
Families affected by serious violence against a child should have access, where available and appropriate, to victim advocacy, information about legal and investigative processes, language access, support referrals, and a designated point of contact.
12. Training, transparency & review
Responsible personnel should receive appropriate training in threat recognition, documentation, escalation, evidence preservation, trauma-informed communication, and intervention. Implementation should be periodically reviewed for effectiveness, equity, privacy, and unintended consequences.
Guiding purpose. This proposal is not intended to presume guilt in any particular case or replace the work of investigators, prosecutors, courts, schools, or child-protection authorities. Its purpose is to strengthen prevention and accountability systems so that credible warning signs receive an appropriate response before violence becomes irreversible.
The Javits Principle
“When a child reports fear, threats, repeated targeting, or escalating intimidation, responsible adults and institutions must not wait for tragedy before taking the report seriously.”
Justice after tragedy is necessary. Prevention before tragedy is essential.
Help move this forward
This draft is presented as an advocacy framework for legislative review, legal analysis, stakeholder consultation and potential sponsorship. If you can help, we would like to hear from you.
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