OJJDP FY 16 Smart on Juvenile Justice: Enhancing Youth Access to Justice State Reform Implementation Program

In FY15, OJJDP awarded four, 12-month state planning grants under category three of the Smart on Juvenile Justice: Enhancing Youth Access to Justice Initiative. During the planning phase, each grantee convened a diverse committee of critical stakeholders and worked with a training and technical assistance provider - the National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC) - to develop a statewide strategic plan designed to lead to an effective, well-resourced model juvenile indigent defense delivery system with standards of practice and policies for the management of that system. In FY16, OJJDP will provide 12-month implementation grants to help states implement these strategies to ensure that every justice-involved youth has access to counsel and receives the guarantees of due process and equal protection, and that their constitutional rights are honored.