Sharing information with juvenile justice practitioners, policymakers, and the public—information about research, statistics, and programs that work—is a longstanding priority at the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The agency uses many methods to move information to the field, including print publications, electronic products (such as CD�ROMs, listservs, and Web sites), and satellite videoconferences. OJJDP recently has begun to change its approach to information dissemination, relying more on its Web site as a dissemination vehicle and exploring the advantages of electronic publishing.

Beginning in 2002, OJJDP is targeting its mailings of publications and solicitations to more carefully defined audiences. As always, electronic versions of all publications and solicitations may be viewed and downloaded at the agency�s Web site (ojjdp.ncjrs.org). A limited number of print copies will be available from the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse on request. New publications and solicitations will be announced in this newsletter, on OJJDP�s Web site, and through the JUVJUST listserv (for more information on JUVJUST, click here). This new approach to information dissemination—more targeted mailings and greater reliance on the Web—will reduce paper clutter for OJJDP�s constituents and will bring considerable savings in postage and print costs for taxpayers.

OJJDP also is looking to online publication as an alternative to print for disseminating certain information. For example, statistics and other time-sensitive materials are a natural for the Web, where they can be published more quickly, updated more easily (and therefore more frequently), and presented without the physical constraints of print. Online publication will help OJJDP provide its constituents with the most up-to-date and comprehensive information possible.

Although the volume of OJJDP�s mailings will decrease, the agency�s overall information dissemination activity should expand—particularly when the economies of electronic dissemination are fully realized. Information sharing remains a top priority as OJJDP streamlines its publishing processes and looks for innovative ways to provide the best possible access to information. As a result of the agency's new approach, the juvenile justice field should benefit from quicker, more focused access to the information it needs.

Welcome to the first issue of OJJDP�s bimonthly newsletter, OJJDP News @ a Glance. The newsletter will bring you up-to-date notices of agency activities, recent publications, funding opportunities, and upcoming events. The first issue includes a special feature highlighting OJJDP�s approach to information dissemination. We hope to make News @ a Glance a one-stop shop for the latest developments at OJJDP, with an emphasis on providing quick access to online sources for publications and other resources. Let us know what types of features will make the newsletter most useful for you (e-mail [email protected]).

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office for Victims of Crime.