Daryl Fox: Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the July 24, 2024, installment of "Today in Juvenile Justice: Administrator Update." We're glad you're able to join us today. All audio lines are muted, as this is a listen-only briefing. For reference, this recording will be posted tomorrow to the OJJDP website. At this time, it’s my pleasure to introduce Liz Ryan, OJJDP Administrator, for today’s update.
Liz Ryan: Hello, my name is Liz Ryan. I am the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, or OJJDP.
As some of you may know, this year, OJJDP and our partners are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, enacted on September 7, 1974.
The theme of this observance is "Looking Back, Moving Forward: Celebrating 50 years of the JJDPA."
We are highlighting the milestones achieved under the JJDPA and underscoring efforts to create a more just and equitable juvenile justice system that prioritizes prevention and intervention.
The passage of the JJDPA in 1974 marked a pivotal shift in how states and territories approached juvenile justice.
For the first time under federal law, the JJDPA provided federal guidance and standards to ensure a minimum level of safety and equitable treatment for young people impacted by the juvenile justice system.
Prior to the passage of the Act, data was not tracked in an official capacity, but a 1976 Children’s Defense Fund report[1] estimates that up to half a million children were held in adult jails each year. The report also noted that the jailing of children at the time seemed haphazard.
The researchers found a 12-year-old girl in jail for stealing quarters from a washing machine, an 11-year-old boy who spent three days in jail while waiting to be questioned about a robbery, and a 15-year-old boy who was held for arguing with his parents.
While it wasn’t always clear WHY kids were in jail, it was obvious they were not safe there. Kids were being assaulted in detention. Young people were dying by suicide while detained.
The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act filled a dangerous void.
It recognized what we all know to be true: youth are fundamentally different from adults and must be treated as such.
The JJDPA provided all states the opportunity to receive federal funding for efforts to prevent and reduce delinquent behavior by young people. States would need to meet core requirements to receive this new federal funding.
The core requirements included the deinstitutionalization of youth charged with status offenses, removing youth from adult jails and lockups, sight and sound separation between youth and incarcerated adults, and addressing racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system.
The Act also established OJJDP to provide national leadership, coordination, and resources to help state, local, and Tribal communities prevent delinquency and improve their juvenile justice systems.
As the only federal office solely focused on youth who are involved in or at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system, OJJDP is committed to advancing community safety and enhancing the welfare of America's youth.
OJJDP worked in partnership with the states and through their State Advisory Groups, or SAGs, to support compliance with these core protections. Many states embedded these protections into state law and policy, transforming the way the juvenile justice system sees and treats children.
However, there was more work to be done. In the late 1980s and 90s, states were still working to implement the JJDPA. Then, following a brief uptick in youth arrests, public opinion changed and youth suspected of delinquent acts were labeled "super-predators."
In response, lawmakers in 40 states passed legislation that sent tens of thousands of young people to adult courts, adult jails, and adult prisons. From 1985 to 1995, arrests for disorderly conduct and loitering increased by 84 percent! This rise in youth incarceration coincided with the acknowledgement of the historic inequalities youth of color faced in the juvenile justice system.
For the past 30 years, we have been working to undo the harmful and misguided policies of the 90s.
Some states have repealed many of their harsh sentencing laws and policies that would prosecute youth in adult court. States and localities are now focusing more on what works—evidence-based programs that incorporate adolescent brain development.
The good news is, we are making progress!
We are moving away from harsh punishments to a focus on rehabilitation.
Today, most states participate in the JJDPA and are meeting the JJDPA's core requirements that help to ensure the safety and well-being of youth in the juvenile justice system.
We have seen significant reductions in the use of detention and secure confinement, as well as the placement of children in adult jails.
And we have seen an increase in the use of community-based programs. Keeping young people in their communities, with their families, helps to advance community safety and create more opportunities for youth.
The recent reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Act reinforces many of the core requirements. It provides guidance to help states identify, analyze, and reduce disparities in the juvenile justice system; as well as remove youth from jail who have been charged as adults.
The reauthorization continues to focus on meeting the needs of at-risk youth who come into contact with the justice system.
The law now calls on OJJDP to support a continuum of evidence-based or promising programs that are trauma informed and reflect the science of adolescent development.
OJJDP's Continuum of Care framework is the future of juvenile justice.
It emphasizes evidence-based and promising programs and practices to ensure young people can access needed resources and services where they live and at every point in the juvenile justice system.
Most importantly, the continuum of care focuses on keeping at-risk young people from entering or moving deeper into the juvenile justice system by delivering quality community-based services.
When we work together, we can help more young people stay out of the system and become contributing members of their communities.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the JJDPA, our focus remains on protecting youth and improving communities.
Please join us in this commemoration as we reflect on past achievements, current challenges, and future innovations.
Visit our 50th anniversary website at ojjdp.ojp.gov and download resources from our anniversary social media kit. Please share with your family, friends, and coworkers!
Thank you.
