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Working for Youth Justice and Safety

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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

Plan to Tune In for December's Administrator Update Call

Save the date for the next Today in Juvenile Justice: Administrator Update, which will be held at 11 a.m. ET on December 19, 2023. 

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.

Learn about Funding

Learn about Funding

OJJDP funding programs support state and community efforts to develop effective prevention and intervention programs and to improve juvenile justice systems.
Access Resources

Access Resources

OJJDP produces and sponsors numerous publications and products each year that focus on different aspects of juvenile justice.
Find Programs

Find Programs

OJJDP sponsors programs to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization and improve juvenile justice systems.
Participate in Events

Participate in Events

Learn about upcoming webinars and in-person conferences and training opportunities that support OJJDP's mission.

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.