Youth Risk for Violent Victimization and Homicide Has Grown, Crime Trends Show
Young people ages 12 to 17 were more likely to suffer nonfatal violent victimization in 2022 than in 2021 or 2020, reflecting a return to prepandemic victimization levels. Crimes Involving Juveniles, 1993–2022, a Bureau of Justice Statistics report, presents data on youth victimization and deaths by homicide, nonfatal violent incidents attributed to youth, and arrests.
The JJDPA’s 50th Anniversary Is an Opportunity To Transform the Juvenile Justice System, OJJDP Administrator Says
OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan offered opening remarks at the 2024 Coalition for Juvenile Justice Annual Conference on May 30 in Washington, DC, calling on attendees to view the 50th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) as an opportunity to transform the juvenile justice system.
From the Administrator's Desk
Successful Reentry Programs Connect Youth to the Communities They Call Home
“Reentry needs to start right when a young person is incarcerated, not the day before they’re leaving or right after they’ve left. The programs that work the best are ones that start working with that young person right when they are in an out-of-home placement, and they’re also connecting that young person with community supports and resources . . . building a relationship with people who are in the community where that young person is coming from. I had the opportunity to visit one of our grantees in North Carolina, and I saw how vital it was for those young people to build those connections, so that [if] they leave the facility on Tuesday, they are in school on Wednesday; they have a workforce plan of what they’re going to do in terms of a job. And it may not be the ultimate job that they want, but it’s a job that’s helping them on a pathway to success.”
—Administrator Liz Ryan, during the "Second Chances, Stronger Communities" panel discussion.
From the Field: Seeking Justice and Equity for LGBTQ2S+ Youth
Each June, communities nationwide recognize Pride Month with rainbow flags, festivals, and parades proclaiming support for LGBTQ2S+ people. Pride celebrations are safe spaces for LGBTQ2S+ youth—places where they can find acceptance and feel free to celebrate who they are. For many, these annual events are a respite from being targeted for their sexual orientation or for their gender identity. LGBTQ2S+ young people are more likely than their heterosexual peers to be bullied, suffer sexual violence, skip school out of fear for their safety, misuse opioids and other drugs, and to seriously consider, plan out, and attempt suicide. OJJDP is dedicated to ensuring justice and equity for these youth, and the Office funds grantees that recognize and address their unique needs. The Pride Justice Resource Center is one example.
Tribal Connections: Implementing and Sustaining Tribal Youth Healing to Wellness Courts
Tribal youth healing to wellness courts support justice-involved Native youth with individualized, restorative services that are grounded in Native strengths, values, and culture. Recent podcast episodes by OJJDP’s Tribal Youth Resource Center are intended to support communities establishing or sustaining these programs. "Taking the Next Step: Implementing a Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court"—episode 2 of season 2—features Roxanne Burtt, coordinator of the Tule River Indian Tribe of California’s youth healing to wellness court. Episode 3, "Sustainability Planning for your Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court," features Chaniel Grant, coordinator of the Blackfeet Tribal Courts in northwest Montana. The Tribal Law and Policy Institute—an OJJDP training and technical assistance provider—has developed a series of resources for Tribal healing to wellness courts, including Serving LGBTQ2S+ Participants in Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts: An Annotated Resource Guide.
News In Brief
- Literature Review Explores Community-Based and Residential Alternatives to Youth Detention
- Interactive Video Demonstrates the Perils of Financial Sextortion
- Helping Youth Cope With the Impact and “Collateral Consequences” of Juvenile Records
- Successful Strategies To Reduce Violence by Youth Center on Youth Strengths and Interests
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Learn about funding opportunities from OJJDP.
Twenty percent of youth in juvenile justice facilities identify as LGBTQ2S+. Knowing a youth’s LGBTQ2S+ identity helps judges address systemic disparities, promote inclusivity, and provide tailored services, and can help them make more informed decisions about placement and rehabilitation services, according to The Importance of Judges Knowing a Youth's LGBTQ2S+ Identity and the Outcomes of LGBTQ2S+ Youth in the Juvenile Justice System. The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, National SOGIE Center, Gault Center, and Pride Justice Resource Center published the resource with OJJDP funding.