U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

Alternatives to incarceration

Serving Justice-Involved Youth at Home, With Community Support

Blog by OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan

By Liz Ryan, OJJDP Administrator

October is Youth Justice Action Month, a national observance underscoring the need for equity in the juvenile justice system and for centering directly impacted youth and their families to advance youth justice. OJJDP is committed to transforming the juvenile justice system to promote the welfare of all youth. Three priorities guide our work: 1) Treat children as children. 2) Serve...

Treating Children as Children

Blog by OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan

By Liz Ryan, OJJDP Administrator 

October is Youth Justice Action Month, a national observance underscoring the need for equity in the juvenile justice system and for centering directly impacted youth and their families to advance youth justice. OJJDP is committed to transforming the juvenile justice system to promote the welfare of all youth. Three priorities guide our work: 1) Treat children as children. 2)...

OJJDP 2022 Listening Sessions

Over the summer, OJJDP hosted a series of listening sessions and town halls with stakeholders, national partners, and youth. The sessions provided OJJDP an opportunity to learn about practitioners' challenges and successes, as well as the lived experience of youth with the juvenile justice system. Feedback from these events will inform OJJDP's approach in advancing the Office's three priorities:

  • Treating children as children.
  • Serving...

New OJJDP Initiative Promotes Community-Based Alternatives to Youth Incarceration

Blog by OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan

By Liz Ryan, OJJDP Administrator 

Far too many young people are housed in juvenile justice facilities, and often their detention does more harm than good. Community-based alternatives—working with youth where they live—achieve better results than warehousing youth in prisons. 

We currently spend an estimated $5 billion per year to incarcerate children. And research shows that locking up kids doesn’t work. This money is better spent...