Background

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) was created by Congress in 1974 to help States and communities prevent and control delinquency and improve their juvenile justice systems.¹ A component of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, OJJDP is the primary Federal agency responsible for addressing juvenile crime and delinquency and the problems of abused, neglected, missing, and exploited children and for coordinating Federal agency efforts in these areas.

Although the nature and extent of delinquency and abuse have changed considerably since OJJDP was created, the Office continues to provide national leadership and to support an array of activities that help States, tribal jurisdictions, communities, and local governments meet the many juvenile justice challenges facing them. These challenges include preparing juvenile offenders for returning to their communities following release from secure corrections facilities; dealing with the small percentage of serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders; holding offenders accountable for their unlawful actions; combating alcohol and drug abuse; addressing gang and juvenile gun violence; and helping children victimized by crime and child abuse.

Mission

The mission of OJJDP is to provide national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile offending and child victimization. OJJDP accomplishes its mission by supporting States, local communities, and tribal jurisdictions in their efforts to develop and implement effective, multidisciplinary prevention and intervention programs and improve the capacity of the juvenile justice system to protect public safety, hold offenders accountable, and provide treatment and rehabilitative services tailored to the needs of individual juveniles and their families.

Activities and Organization

OJJDP sponsors a range of research and evaluation efforts, statistical studies, and demonstration programs; provides technical assistance and training; produces and distributes publications and other products containing reliable and relevant information about juvenile justice topics; manages programs that address situations involving missing and exploited children; and administers formula, block, and discretionary grant programs. These activities are carried out by seven components within OJJDP: the Research and Program Development Division, the Training and Technical Assistance Division, the Special Emphasis Division, the State and Tribal Assistance Division, the Information Dissemination and Planning Unit, the Concentration of Federal Efforts Program, and the Child Protection Division.

This Report describes OJJDP’s major activities and accomplishments in these areas during FY 2001. Together, they reflect the Office’s continuing commitment to programs that have the greatest potential for reducing juvenile delinquency and the victimization of children and for improving the juvenile justice system.

For Further Information

More information about OJJDP is available on the agency’s Web site at ojjdp.ncjrs.org or from the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse (see information page). An OJJDP Fact Sheet entitled An Overview of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (FS–200009) provides additional information about the agency.