Anticipating a Year of Promise and Potential
As we all start to make plans and fill our calendars for 2024, I want to take the opportunity to share a few highlights from OJJDP.
First, 2024 marks a huge milestone for our Office. On September 7th, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, known as JJDPA. The Act created OJJDP in 1974 to support local and state efforts to improve youth justice systems and advance prevention and intervention efforts.
Just this month, OJJDP launched a new webpage to showcase activities and resources associated with our 50th anniversary. The webpage features a legislative timeline and a media library with historical documents. I encourage you to visit.
We are also planning to host a national convening later this year in honor of the 50th anniversary. The event will bring together young people and their families—along with researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and advocates from across the country—to help advance youth justice goals for the next 50 years. Additional details about this event will be featured on the 50th anniversary website as they become available.
While celebrating milestones, we’re also committed to constantly improving our communications to the youth justice field. With this issue of OJJDP News @ a Glance, we are debuting an improved look, with increased frequency and enhanced content.
This award-winning newsletter provides essential information for stakeholders interested in youth justice. I am proud to note that we currently have more than 37,000 subscribers. Every month, we deliver information about youth justice trends, current research, training opportunities, and other OJJDP activities.
We have also added a “From the Administrator’s Desk” section to the newsletter, where you’ll find photos from my recent site visits and speaking engagements, as well as links to my blog posts and speeches. I want you to know where I’ve been and what we’re focusing on.
If you’re not already a subscriber to OJJDP News @ a Glance, please visit our website to sign up and get the newsletter delivered to your inbox every month.
In 2024, OJJDP is also doubling down on our commitment to listen to and learn from all of our stakeholders—from professionals in youth justice to youth and families. We want to hear directly from you, so we’ve added an “Ask the Administrator” box to our website.
The upcoming year is full of promise and potential. I look forward to working with you to improve youth justice and better young lives.