OJJDP Webinar Celebrates Youth Contributions to the Civil Rights Movement
Youth activism was central to the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s—the struggle that sought equal rights for Black Americans and an end to racial segregation. During an OJJDP webinar, panelists recalled the dedication and acts of bravery by young people, and considered ways to encourage youth today to fight injustice and advocate for civil rights.
Community Providers Join Schools To Address and Reduce Neighborhood Violence
In the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami, FL, the Affirming Youth Foundation, an OJJDP grantee, collaborates with schools, families, and local service providers, serving youth ages 15 and younger who have either been victimized by or witnessed violence. Academic supports and wraparound services address many of the challenges youth face, while also reducing community violence or mitigating its impact.
From the Administrator's Desk
Newsweek Publishes OJJDP Administrator’s Opinion Column—“Treat Kids as Kids: A Modern Approach to Ensuring Safe Communities”
“Extensive research has illuminated the developmental vulnerabilities of young minds, highlighting the propensity for youth to engage in impulsive and risky behavior. Studies also indicate that most young people outgrow delinquent behavior over time. This emphasizes the importance of intervention and support rather than punitive measures. We need to double down on what works with young people, focusing on an evidence-based approach rooted in research and community collaboration.”
—OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan, in her August 1 Newsweek column
Youth Voices: Don’t Let Your Life Be Watered Down to “Guilty” or “Not Guilty”
Michael O’Key was 12 years old when he entered a maximum-security facility in North Carolina. His first and only encounter with the juvenile justice system led to a 3½-year stay. Now 26 and about to enter law school, Mr. O’Key calls that time “formative.”
Tribal Connections: Success "Because of You"
Moi-Yukh Rubio expressed gratitude as he graduated from the Tule River Tribe of California’s Juvenile Healing and Wellness Center program last December, telling the center’s staff that he had been successful in the program “because of you”—underscoring the impact of consistent support from positive, caring adults in a young person’s life.
News In Brief
- OJJDP Provides $2.5 Million to AmeriCorps To Open Up Opportunities for System-Involved Youth
- OJJDP and Children’s Bureau Partner To Address Challenges Facing Dual System Youth
- NCMEC Technical Support Helps Federal Operation Recover 200 Missing Children
- NIJ: Effective Responses to Youth Misbehavior Require Accurate, Timely Data
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Learn about funding opportunities from OJJDP.
OJJDP is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA). The law incentivizes states to comply with “core requirements”—deinstitutionalizing youth found guilty of status offenses, removing youth from adult jails and lockups, separating youth from adults in secure facilities, and reducing racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system. The incentive? Under the JJDPA, only states that commit to achieving and maintaining compliance with the core requirements are eligible to receive funding under the Title II Formula Grants program. OJJDP administers the Title II Formula Grants program; states decide for themselves where to apply the funding.