On Tuesday, September 7, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) turned 35 years old. The JJDPA set out federal standards for the custody and care of youth in the juvenile justice system. These standards include four core protections that help ensure the health and well-being of youth:

—Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders (DSO) keeps status offenders, such as runaways and truants, out of secure facilities;

—Adult Jail and Lockup Removal (Jail Removal) prevents youth from being placed in adult jails and lock-ups;

—Sight and Sound Separation provides that when youth are detained or incarcerated in adult jails or police lock-ups, they must be separated by both sight and sound from adult offenders;

—Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) requires that states address the disproportionate contact of youth of color with the juvenile justice system.

Currently, juvenile arrests are at a historic low. Please take the time to contact your congressional representatives and urge them to reauthorize the JJDPA.

More about the JJDPA reauthorization is here.