Legislation

Video: Learn about the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act

OJJDP held a master class on the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA). Hosted by Senior Policy Advisors Jill Ward and Marcy Mistrett, it explores the origins of the JJDPA, its core protections for youth, and how these safeguards have evolved over time. They also discuss the law's impact on state juvenile justice systems and its ongoing relevance today.

Authorizing Legislation

Congress enacted the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act (Pub. L. No. 93-415, 42 U.S.C. § 5601 et seq.) in 1974. This landmark legislation established OJJDP to support local and state efforts to prevent delinquency and improve juvenile justice systems.

In November 2002, Congress reauthorized the JJDP Act. The reauthorization (the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act, Pub. L. No. 107-273, 116 Stat. 1758) supported OJJDP's established mission while introducing important changes that streamlined the Office's operations and brought a sharper focus to its role. The provisions of the reauthorization took effect in FY 2004 (October 2003). 

In December 2018, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act (JJRA) of 2018 was signed into law, reauthorizing and amending the JJDP Act. The amendments made by the JJRA became effective in FY 2020 (October 1, 2019). Review the amended JJDP Act and the redlined JJDP Act publication, which allows users to see and track changes implemented by the new law. 

However, some provisions of the Act will become effective at a later date (see state plan requirements). Detailed information about the current regulations for the OJJDP Formula Grants program is contained in the OJJDP Formula Grant Regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 31, Subpart A.

Read more about the Key Amendments to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act Made by the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018. 

Information is available to assist states in monitoring and achieving compliance with the core requirements specified in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.

JJDP Act Legislative Timeline*  

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) of 1974 was signed into law (Pub. L. No. 93-415, 42 U.S.C. 5601 et seq.) on September 7, 1974.

• The JJDPA created an Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) within the DOJ Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA).
• Created the Title II Formula Grants program.
• Established the Sight and Sound Separation core requirement.
• Established the Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders (DSO) core requirement.
• Created the inter-agency Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
• Established the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act as Title III of the JJDPA. 

1977 - JJDPA modified (Pub. L. No. 95-115) with the following amendments:

• Increased and expanded requirements for DSO and Sight and Sound Separation core requirements.
• Emphasized prevention and treatment.
• Provided that 5% of minimum allotment be made available to State Advisory Groups (SAGs).

1980 - JJDPA modified (Pub. L. No. 96-509) with the following amendments:

• Established the Jail Removal core requirement. 
• Adopted valid court order (VCO) exception to DSO core requirement.
• Established OJJDP as a separate entity within the new DOJ Office of Justice Assistance, Research and Statistics, removing it from the LEAA.

1984 - JJDPA modified (Pub. L. No. 98-473) with the following amendments:

• Created the Office of Justice Programs within DOJ to replace the Office of Justice Assistance, Research and Statistics.
• Enhanced and amended the Jail Removal and DSO core requirements by further defining the VCO Exception and providing more details for the Rural Exception.
• Established the Missing Children's Assistance Act as Title IV of the JJDPA, which called for the creation of a national toll-free line to report information regarding the location of a missing child and established a national resource center and clearinghouse to provide technical assistance to law enforcement, families, and other stakeholders in locating and recovering missing children.

1988 - JJDPA modified (Pub. L. No. 100-690) with the following amendments:

• Called for states to submit a plan to identify and address the Disproportionate Minority Confinement (DMC) of minority youth in secure detention and correctional facilities.
• Established a new program to provide prevention and treatment programs relating to youth gangs, drug abuse, and drug trafficking.

1992 - JJDPA modified (Pub. L. No. 102-586) with the following amendments:

• Amended DSO, Jail Removal, and Separation core requirements.
• Established DMC as a core requirement.
• Established the Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention Programs as Title V of the JJDPA to support delinquency prevention programs and activities for youth who have had or are at risk of contact with the juvenile justice system.
• Emphasized prevention and treatment, family strengthening, graduated sanctions, and risk/need assessments. 

2002 - JJDPA modified (Pub. L. No. 107-273) with the following amendments:

• Broadened the scope of the DMC core requirement from "disproportionate minority confinement" to "disproportionate minority contact".
• Created Part D for research, training and technical assistance, information dissemination.
• Added Part E, authorizing grants for new initiatives and programs. 
• Encouraged states to use funds for evidence-based programs.  

2018 - The Juvenile Justice Reform Act (JJRA) of 2018 was signed into law (Pub. L. No. 115-385) on December 21, 2018, reauthorizing and amending the JJDPA. 

• Established requirement to remove youth charged as adults from adult jails and lockups. 
• Updated and strengthened DMC core requirement to and renamed it the Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities (R/ED) core requirement. 
• Limits the application of the VCO exception. 
• Added requirements related to SAG funding and the transparency of state plans. 
• Added program areas to the Title II Formula Grant program, including legal representation for juveniles, the needs of girls at risk of juvenile justice involvement, and the expungement and sealing of juvenile records. 

View a PDF of the legislative timeline. 

Related Legislation

In addition to the JJDP Act, other pieces of legislation are relevant to OJJDP and its policies and priorities; several are listed below. The United States Government Publishing Office (GPO) govinfo website provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the federal government. Search for public and private laws enacted from the 104th Congress to the present on the govinfo website.

• The Adoption Promotion Act of 2003 (Pub. L. No. 108-145).
• Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children Protection Act (Pub. L. No. 108-096).
• Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (Pub. L. No. 108-79).
• Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (Title I, Pub. L. No. 108-036).
• PROTECT Act (Pub. L. No. 108-021).
• No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Pub. L. No. 107-110).
• Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (Division B, Pub. L. No. 106-386).
• Strengthening Abuse and Neglect Courts Act of 2000 (Pub. L. No. 106-314).
• Immigration Services and Infrastructure Improvements Act (Title II, Pub. L. No. 106-313).
• Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act (Title XXXVI, Pub. L. No. 106-310).
• Protection of Children from Sexual Predators Act of 1998 (Pub. L. No. 105-314).
• Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, Title I (Part R, Chapter 46, Subchapter XII-F) Juvenile Accountability Block Grants.
• Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Pub. L. No. 115-424).

*This list is not comprehensive.