OJJDP Celebrates Youth Justice Action Month—Because YOUth Are Worth It!
OJJDP’s celebration of YJAM 2024 kicked off October 1 at Café Momentum, a nonprofit restaurant and culinary training facility for youth in Pittsburgh, PA. Events continued throughout October, including panel discussions; a master class on the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act; and the YJAM Tour, which brought music, art, and community events to four cities nationwide.
OJJDP Title II Funding Supports Justice-Involved Youth in Ohio and Rhode Island
OJJDP Title II Formula Grants funding goes directly to states and territories to help them implement comprehensive youth justice plans based on their jurisdiction’s unique needs. Funds may be used for a broad range of services. JusticeWorks Ohio and Rhode Island KIDS COUNT are recipients of Title II funding awarded to their states.
From the Administrator's Desk
Pioneers in Juvenile Justice Reform Reflect on the JJDPA’s Impact
“Not only have they been extraordinary leaders for juvenile justice reform, but they are pioneers, challenging the status quo, exploring new paths, and significantly altering the landscape. Their efforts have played a crucial role in championing the JJDPA’s core principles and advocating for policies that promote the fair treatment of youth in the justice system.”
—Administrator Liz Ryan, addressing the OJJDP Administrators’ Forum
Eight former OJJDP administrators joined Administrator Liz Ryan in Washington, D.C., on October 8 for “OJJDP Administrators’ Forum: JJDPA Through the Decades,” a lively panel discussion about the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974—the JJDPA—and its impact on young people. The JJDPA established OJJDP and introduced federal standards for the safety and equity of young people in the juvenile justice system. Prior to its passage, the juvenile justice system was “predominantly punitive,” Administrator Ryan said, “dismissing the critical potential for rehabilitation.”
From the Field: Big Sky Youth Empowerment Combines Group Mentoring With Outdoor Adventures
In Bozeman, MT, Big Sky Youth Empowerment—called BYEP—provides 36 weeks of intensive group mentoring to vulnerable teens in grades 7 to 12. All of the youth face challenges that have led them to reach out for support and intentional community. For many, those challenges—coupled with adolescence—cause high levels of anxiety and depression. Nearly half of BYEP youth struggle with suicidal thinking in the 12 months before joining the program. “By choosing to become a part of BYEP, teens are pursuing a new path, rooted in peer support, mentorship, and time spent outdoors,” says Anna Gray Tapia, BYEP’s Grants and Data Manager.
Tribal Connections: Peer Mentoring Leads to Deep Bonds, Trust, and Friendship
“The emotional support and guidance provided by the mentor to her mentee was not something that you can provide in an agenda or curriculum. It was genuine compassion, and that is crucial to developing a strong sense of belonging and trust.”
—Abraham Broncheau, Director of Nez Perce Tribe Students for Success
The Nez Perce Tribe’s Students for Success program in Lapwai, ID, piloted a peer-to-peer mentoring program for members of the Tribe’s NAHOVA (Native America Hear Our Voices Arise) youth council.
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News In Brief
- OJJDP’s 50th Anniversary Celebration To Culminate in the National Conference on Youth Justice
- OJJDP Programs Rely on Community Input and Services To Promote Public Safety
- Youth Made Up 6 Percent of the Jail Population in Indian Country in 2023
- Female Students and LGBTQ+ Students Report Experiencing Higher Levels of Violence, CDC Survey Results Show
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OJJDP’s yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act will culminate November 19–21 with the 2024 OJJDP National Conference on Youth Justice in Washington, DC. OJJDP is expecting thousands of attendees—youth, families, researchers, practitioners, Office grantees, and others with a stake in youth justice. They will find plenary sessions, more than 90 workshops, and numerous youth networking events all aimed at “Shaping the Next 50 Years” in youth justice. Subscribe to OJJDP's JUVJUST to receive conference updates!