This publication is the FY 2023–2024 Independent Practitioner Report on Youth Justice, Report to Congress of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
This Practitioner Report of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention provides Congress a snapshot of (1) The Current Needs of Youth; (2) Effective and Promising Approaches for Justice-Involved Youth; (3) Adopting and Strengthening the Continuum of Care for Youth; and (4) Future Opportunities to Support Youth. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act established the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention as an independent entity in the executive branch to improve the coordination of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention activities. The Council is charged with the coordination of all Federal delinquency programs, programs and activities that detain or care for unaccompanied juveniles, and programs relating to missing and exploited children. The JJDP Act requires the Council’s practitioner members to independently provide annual recommendations to Congress on youth justice priorities and strategy. These recommendations are in addition to the report of the full Council. A detailed account of the activities conducted by the full Council and its expenses are also provided in the full Council report. The appointed practitioner members of the Federal Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention represent a cross-section of expertise in juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. Members bring a variety of perspectives to the Council, and the areas of expertise are represented in the following disciplines: judiciary; advocacy; public defense; civil and human rights; juvenile justice system leadership; child welfare; tribal interests; philanthropy; and lived experience. The practitioner role on the Coordinating Council is to provide the vital perspective of community members who work directly with young people and their families navigating the juvenile justice system. Practitioners keep the Council informed on emerging issues or issues that have yet to reach Federal agencies.