Juveniles in crisis—from serious, violent, and chronic offenders
to victims of abuse and neglect—pose a
challenge to the nation. Charged
by Congress
to meet this challenge,
OJJDP collaborates with professionals from diverse disciplines to
improve juvenile justice policies and
practices.
OJJDP, a component of the Office
of Justice Programs,
U.S. Department of Justice,
accomplishes its mission by
supporting states, local communities, and tribal jurisdictions
in their efforts to develop and implement
effective programs for juveniles. The Office strives to strengthen the juvenile justice system's efforts to protect public safety, hold offenders accountable, and provide services that address the needs of youth and their families.
Through its components, OJJDP sponsors research, program, and training initiatives; develops priorities and goals and sets policies to guide federal juvenile justice issues; disseminates information about juvenile justice issues; and awards funds to states to support local programming.
