OJJDP?Observes the Anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act?

Join OJJDP in observing the 48th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) and its impact on juvenile justice.

Signed into law on September 7, 1974, the JJDPA established OJJDP to support local and state efforts to prevent delinquency and improve the juvenile justice system.

In 2018, the Juvenile Justice Reauthorization Act reauthorized and amended the JJDPA. The legislation strengthens the four core requirements, requires states to implement strategies to identify and decrease racial and ethnic disparities, and promotes alternatives to incarceration and family engagement. The JJDPA is scheduled for reauthorization in 2023.

In fiscal year 2021, OJJDP distributed nearly $344 million in grant awards nationwide to support juvenile justice reforms, prevent child exploitation and abuse, and improve outcomes for youth.