January | February 2018

Message From Administrator Harp

Hello, I’m Caren Harp. On January 19, I was honored to be sworn in as Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

I’ve worked with the people at OJJDP, on and off, for 19 years. They are dedicated to improving the juvenile justice system and ensuring the best possible outcomes for crime victims, youth, and communities. My staff and I share the Attorney General’s commitment to reducing violent crime, combating gang activity, supporting law enforcement, and protecting communities.

January was National Mentoring Month and National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. OJJDP continues to be at the forefront of research and programming that strengthen and protect at-risk youth and combat the commercial sexual exploitation of minors.

Any court system improvement work must focus on what works—on evidence-based programs and strategies that enhance public safety, hold youth appropriately accountable for their conduct, and equip them to live law-abiding and productive lives.

I want to commend Eileen Garry for leading OJJDP as Acting Administrator for the past year. Eileen will now be serving as Deputy Administrator, and I know OJJDP will continue to benefit from her decades of experience in managing state, local, and tribal grant programs and child protection activities.

I look forward to working closely with OJJDP staff, the Office of Justice Programs, the Justice Department, and all of our partners in the juvenile justice field—state and tribal governments, practitioners, and researchers. Working together is the most effective way we can serve youth, victims, and communities.