NCJ Number
244571
Date Published
September 2009
Length
72 pages
Annotation
As a means of encouraging the reauthorization, updating, and funding of the Federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), this report presents the results of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice's (CJJ's) Survey of State JJDPA Compliance Challenges and Successes administered in July 2008, which includes unverified responses from up to 53 States and Territories.
Abstract
The survey found that the JJDPA is fulfilling its purposes. The survey determined that 35 years after its enactment, 55 of 56 States and Territories voluntarily participate in the JJDPA, which was enacted in 1974 to create a partnership among Federal and State, tribal, and territorial governments in order to improve the prevention of juvenile delinquency, respond to delinquent behavior, reform juvenile justice systems, and improve community safety. Eighty-five percent of survey respondents were in compliance with all four JJDPA core requirements as of their last compliance audit. In addition, the survey determined that States value the Federal-State partnership under the JJDPA and have pursued innovations that make optimal use of Federal resources. This has contributed to near-historic lows in rates of juvenile offending. The survey shows that challenges remain, however. Significant decreases in Federal funds to the States appropriated under the JJDPA threaten States' ability to maintain compliance with JJDPA core requirements. Almost half the States need resources, technical assistance, and training in maintaining compliance with the deinstitutionalization of status offenders and reducing disproportionate minority contact with the juvenile justice system. Based largely on these survey findings, this report proposes recommendations to the President and U.S. Congress and other key stakeholder groups regarding the future of the JJDPA. 10 figures and a listing of CJJ publications