OJJDP Priorities
OJJDP's three priorities reflect the Office's guiding philosophy: to enhance the welfare of America’s youth and broaden their opportunities for a better future. To bring these goals to fruition, OJJDP is leading efforts to transform the juvenile justice system into one that will—
The juvenile justice field's decisionmaking must be informed by science and research to ensure young people are adjudicated fairly and given opportunities to learn and recover from youthful mistakes.
Community-based programs that involve families as a critical component enhance youth outcomes, increase public safety, and strengthen neighborhoods.
Juvenile justice practitioners must recognize and address the barriers to success that involvement with the juvenile justice system creates for youth.
The Latest from OJJDP
Register for National Gang Center Webinar
On December 5, 2023, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET, join "OJJDP's National Gang Center Webinar: Getting to the Heart of Youth Transformation—Creating Pathways for Youth Involvement in Violence Reduction Efforts".
New Issue of The AMBER Advocate Now Available
This special double issue of The AMBER Advocate offers an in-depth look at the topics most important to the eight parents of missing children who helped create the new multimedia element of the "Fifth Edition of When Your Child Is Missing: A Family Survival Guide."
Justice Department Issues Fines and Fees Dear Colleague Letter
A letter released from the Department of Justice describes how the unjust imposition and enforcement of fines and fees violate the civil rights of adults and youth accused of felonies, misdemeanors, quasi-criminal ordinance violations, and civil infractions.
OJJDP News @ a Glance, September/October 2023
This issue highlights a Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention meeting, OJJDP's lineup for Youth Justice Action Month, the new Pride Justice Resource Center, and a youth who approaches research through an Indigenous lens.
Recent News
- Amplifying the Youth Voice During Youth Justice Action Month
- OJJDP Celebrates 49th Year of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act
- OJJDP in the Field: Utah Program Site Visit
- OJJDP Calls on States to Strengthen Youth Defense Systems
- USDA Programs Help To Feed Children Facing Food Insecurity
- The Scottsboro Boys: Legacy of Injustice
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Preventing Youth Hate Crimes & Identity-Based Bullying Initiative
Discover more about OJJDP's Preventing Youth Hate Crimes & Identity-Based Bullying Initiative. This national initiative focuses on prevention and early intervention from a youth-based perspective. OJJDP hosted its second Youth Hate Crimes and Identity-Based Bullying Prevention Virtual Symposium from October 17-18, 2023.