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
Juvenile Court Statistics, 2022
Juvenile Court Statistics 2022 describes delinquency cases and petitioned status offense cases handled between 2005 and 2022 by U.S. courts with juvenile jurisdiction.
OJJDP's 2024 National Conference on Youth Justice Showcases Youth Leadership
The conference, cosponsored by the federal Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, brought together more than 2,500 young people, families, youth justice practitioners, community leaders, educators, OJJDP grantees, and policymakers to discuss transforming juvenile justice.
Facts About Youth Crime
The new site provides an overview of the youth justice system, how it differs from adult court, and how it has changed over the years.
Partnering With Youth and Families: A Best Practices Guide for Youth Justice Stakeholders
In developing this best practices guide, the authors and contributors reviewed the most current literature about youth and family engagement and conducted indepth interviews with dozens of system involved young adults and their families.
OJJDP News @ a Glance, November 2024
The November newsletter highlights OJJDP's 2024 National Conference on Youth Justice, a three-day event celebrating 50 years of progress in youth justice and looking ahead to the field's next half century. The newsletter also spotlights the Office’s $420 million in fiscal year 2024 discretionary grants.
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.