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Facts About Youth Crime

Historic Cases in Youth Justice

This page details milestones in juvenile justice—from the establishment of the first juvenile court in the United States to landmark court cases throughout history.  

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) (Pub. L. No. 93-415, 42 U.S.C. § 5601 et seq.) milestones:

  • September 7, 1974 - JJDPA signed into law
  • 1980 - Jail Removal added to JJDPA
  • 1988, 2002 and 2018 - JJDPA reauthorized
  • 1992 - Disproportionate Minority Confinement (DMC) added to the JJDPA
  • 2002 - Broadened scope of the DMC core requirement from "disproportionate minority confinement" to "disproportionate minority contact" 

 View Timeline


Juvenile Courts Map

This map is a data visualization that displays the establishment of juvenile courts by year for each state. Hover over each state for more information about when each juvenile court was founded. 

Date Created: September 12, 2024