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
OJJDP News @ a Glance, July/August 2022
The July/August newsletter highlights the importance of listening to youth, young people’s experience returning to their communities following residential placement, an anti-gang program in Hawaii, and the benefits of collaboration among OJJDP, Tribes, and states.
Register for OJJDP's Youth Justice Action Month Webinar
Join OJJDP on October 3, 2022, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET for "Youth Justice Action Month: Creating Brighter Futures for Our Nation's Youth." This webinar will highlight Youth Justice Action Month, recognized each October to raise awareness about supporting justice-involved youth.
New Fact Sheet: Trends in Youth Arrests for Violent Crimes
Data show violent crime arrests involving youth have been on the decline since the mid-2000s. By 2020, the number of violent crime arrests involving youth reached a new low, 78% below the 1994 peak, and half the number 10 years earlier.
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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 and learn about upcoming webinars. This national initiative focuses on prevention and early intervention from a youth-based perspective.