Join OJJDP at the 2024 National Conference on Youth Justice
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention invites you to register for the 2024 National Conference on Youth Justice: Shaping the Next 50 Years. The conference will be held November 19-21, 2024, at the Washington Hilton in Washington D.C.
Read the Conference Agenda
Access List of Conference Sessions
View the JJDPA 50th Anniversary Webpage
OJJDP Priorities
OJJDP's three priorities reflect the Office's guiding philosophy: to enhance the welfare of America’s youth and broaden their opportunities for a better future. To bring these goals to fruition, OJJDP is leading efforts to transform the juvenile justice system into one that will—
The juvenile justice field's decisionmaking must be informed by science and research to ensure young people are adjudicated fairly and given opportunities to learn and recover from youthful mistakes.
Community-based programs that involve families as a critical component enhance youth outcomes, increase public safety, and strengthen neighborhoods.
Juvenile justice practitioners must recognize and address the barriers to success that involvement with the juvenile justice system creates for youth.
The Latest from OJJDP
November is National Native American Heritage Month
President Joseph Biden has proclaimed November as National Native American Heritage Month. "During National Native American Heritage Month, we honor the heritage and contributions of Native peoples, and we work tirelessly to build a future grounded in dignity, respect, and partnership," Biden said.
OJJDP News @ a Glance, October 2024
The October newsletter highlights OJJDP’s celebration of Youth Justice Action Month, recipients of the Office’s Title II Formula Grants in Ohio and Rhode Island, and a panel discussion about the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act featuring Administrator Liz Ryan and eight former OJJDP administrators.
ICYMI: JJDPA Master Class: 50 Years of Shaping Juvenile Justice
This webinar recording provides an in-depth look at the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), the law that created OJJDP and established national standards for youth in custody.
Delinquency Cases in Juvenile Court, 2021
In 2021, juvenile courts in the United States handled 437,300 delinquency cases that involved youth charged with criminal law violations, 39% less than the number of cases handled in 2020. From 2005 through 2021, the number of delinquency cases declined 73%, with decreases in four offense categories.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Processing of Delinquency Cases, 2005-2022
In this data snapshot, data from OJJDP's National Juvenile Court Data Archive is used to trend case processing variations. Since 2005, referral rates for delinquency cases involving Black youth were more than twice the rates for all other groups.
Recent News
- Amplifying the Youth Voice During Youth Justice Action Month
- OJJDP Celebrates 49th Year of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act
- OJJDP in the Field: Utah Program Site Visit
- OJJDP Calls on States to Strengthen Youth Defense Systems
- USDA Programs Help To Feed Children Facing Food Insecurity
- The Scottsboro Boys: Legacy of Injustice
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Preventing Youth Hate Crimes & Identity-Based Bullying Initiative
Discover more about OJJDP's Preventing Youth Hate Crimes & Identity-Based Bullying Initiative. This national initiative focuses on prevention and early intervention from a youth-based perspective. OJJDP hosted its second Youth Hate Crimes and Identity-Based Bullying Prevention Virtual Symposium from October 17-18, 2023.