In a new blog post, OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan discusses the 49th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) and its impact on OJJDP’s vision for juvenile justice reform.
Signed into law on September 7, 1974, the Act established OJJDP to support local, state, and Tribal efforts to protect youth, strengthen families, and enhance community safety.
Administrator Ryan's blog notes that each year OJJDP awards hundreds of millions of dollars in grant funding nationwide to support juvenile justice reforms, prevent child exploitation and abuse, and improve outcomes for youth leaving detention and reentering their communities.
"In fiscal year 2022 alone, OJJDP awarded more than 370 grants totaling more than $405 million in discretionary and formula grant funds to states, Tribal communities, and local jurisdictions to help safeguard youth and prevent delinquency," Ryan writes.
The blog highlights two overarching principles that guide the work of OJJDP: a commitment to racial equity and fairness; and a promise to partner with youth and families who are directly impacted by the juvenile justice system.
The Administrator's blog also describes OJJDP's work in advancing its three priorities:
Treating children as children.
Serving youth at home, with their families and in their communities.
Providing opportunities for young people who come into contact with the justice system.
"OJJDP looks forward to working with its diverse stakeholders to bolster our greatest natural resource: our youth," Administrator Ryan writes.
RESOURCES:
- Learn about OJJDP's priorities.
- Access Admin Liz Ryan's Monthly Calls for more in-depth conversation on youth justice in the field.
- Learn more about the JJDP Act and the Juvenile Justice Reform Act.
- Follow OJJDP on X formerly known as Twitter and Facebook.