In March, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (S. 678) was introduced in the U.S. Senate, with Sen. Kohl as one of its cosponsors. The Act reauthorizes the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), which was first passed in 1974 and most recently reauthorized in 2002. WCCF has produced a detailed informational brief outlining the highlights of the bill, but here are the highlights of the highlights:

This bill includes a number of provisions that would benefit youth who come in contact with the juvenile justice system. It requires that states:

• eliminate the use of Valid Court Orders to confine status offenders;

• produce plans for juveniles with mental health or substance abuse needs that ensure appropriate assessment, placement, and access to alternatives to detention; and

• eliminate confinement of youth under 18, regardless of whether they are treated as adults, in adult facilities while awaiting court procedures.

S. 678 also emphasizes the use of evidence-based or promising prevention programs, and aims to identify and address equality and disproportional contact and confinement of minority youth. It requires the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to provide training, technical assistance, and funding to support states’ efforts toward compliance. Incentive and improvement grants are also available to aid states’ compliance efforts or to support program or staff development. The bill also calls for additional research regarding equality, mental health and substance abuse needs, best practices, and the discharge process and living arrangements of juveniles that exit the system.

The JJDPA reauthorization bill works to improve the conditions of confinement, treatment and frequency of both youth with mental health or substance abuse needs and minority youth in the juvenile justice system, and emphasizes collaboration and research throughout. It represents a significant step toward ensuring appropriate services for youthful offenders, providing incentives and direction for important research on best practices, and providing meaningful and long-term safety for the community.