By: Jason Smith
Over the last 40 years, the US Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) has continually supported states in providing safe, effective treatment for youth who have come in contact with the juvenile and criminal courts. The JJDPA created the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention within the US Dept. of Justice and provides states with funding, technical assistance, and support for State Advisory Groups (SAGS). In return for this support, state must comply with its four core protections: deinstitutionalization of status offenders, removal of youth from adult jails and detentions, sight and sound separation of youth from adults in confinement, and reduction of disproportionate minority contact within the juvenile justice system.

Despite the positive influence of this federal law throughout the states, the JJDPA has not been reauthorized since 2002. In the last 13 years, ground-breaking advances in adolescent brain research, prohibitions on juvenile death penalty and life without parole sentencing, and a renewed focus on cost-effective community-based programming has changed the way we think about and work within the juvenile justice system. As the national-agenda setting legislation, the JJDPA should, at a minimum, reflect these changes that local governments are already embracing.

Fortunately champions in the U.S. House and Senate are seeking to reauthorize the JJDPA and strengthen its protections through 2020.

Senate Bill 1169 includes amendments that would eliminate the loop hole that currently allows status offenders to be securely detained by order of the court, further ensures sight and sound separation of youths awaiting trial in the criminal court system from adults, and provides more direction to states in their efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities through the use of data-driven approaches.

In addition to the Senate proposal, House Bill 2728 would reduce the amount of JJDPA grants funding that can be used for supporting mentoring programs, empowers the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency (OJJDP) to create “incentive grants” that state and local youth-serving agencies can use to increase evidence-based practices and workforce development, set staffing ratio requirements for state-managed juvenile facilities, and would direct funds to high-crime areas with the goal of developing strategies to reduce youth violence.

Why is reauthorizing the JJDPA is necessary for Michigan?

Michigan strives remain in compliance with the “core requirements” of the JJDPA. Through the State Advisory Group, the Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice, Michigan receives funding to monitor the disproportionality of youth in the justice system and assist in the development of local community-based services and delinquency prevention programs. Reauthorizing the JJDPA and supporting the proposed amendments allow the state and counties to continue to receive federal funds and strengthens support for policy changes that recognize that youth are different than adults and should be treated in the least restrictive manner as possible.

How You Can Help Reauthorize the JJDPA

The Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ), a nationwide coalition of State Advisory Groups and allies, is seeking state-based organizations to sign a letter endorsing Senate Bill 1169. Join MCCD by pledging your or your organization’s endorsement and encourage additional Senators to cosponsor and support the legislation. If your organization would like to sign on, please click here.

LEARN MORE:

Grassley, Whitehouse Introduce Measure to Reauthorize Juvenile Justice Act– Juvenile Justice Information Exchange

House Bill Would Reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act– Juvenile Justice Information Exchange

Reauthorization of JJDPA -ACT 4 Juvenile Justice

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act – Coalition for Juvenile Justice

 

 

Posted by MCCD on Thursday, July 16th, 2015 @ 11:28AM
Categories: In-Home Care Incentive, Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency, PREA, Isolation, Restraint, Youth in Adult System