Fifty Years of Juvenile Justice Reform: Assessing the Impact of The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974

• In Event: Political and Social Discourses about Crime and Justice Panel 2

Abstract

In September of 1974, then President Gerald Ford, signed the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) into law. In the intervening 50 years, Congress has revised and re-authorized the law. The legislation established the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to assist local and state governments and territories in their efforts to prevent delinquency and improve juvenile justice systems. Congress prioritized two areas for immediate attention and action-- calling for the de-institutionalization of status offenders and keeping juveniles out of adult institutions. In subsequent re-authorizations, various priorities included reducing disproportionate minority contact in the 1980s, and trauma-informed care initiatives in 2018. The juvenile justice system has been transformed in the last half century, but an ambivalence toward youth persists. It is manifest in an emphasis on accountability, less than anticipated reliance on evidence-based programs, and insufficient resources. Despite these limitations, the legislation and its subsequent revisions and re-authorizations have improved youth policies and programs in the U.S. and facilitated prevention efforts and treatment of children and youth. In reviewing and assessing the JJDPA’s evolution and progress, we highlight remaining challenges.

Authors

• Alida Merlo, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

• Peter J. Benekos, Mercyhurst University Professor Emeritus, USA