Hello, my name is Liz Ryan, and I’m the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This year, OJJDP and our partners are celebrating a momentous milestone: the 50th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA). Our theme for this golden anniversary is "Looking Back, Moving Forward: Celebrating 50 Years of the JJDPA." It’s an opportunity to reflect on what the juvenile justice field has accomplished under the JJDPA with support from OJJDP and to continue that momentum.
We’ve made progress, but we cannot rest—our youth deserve a truly just and equitable system that prioritizes prevention and intervention.
President Gerald R. Ford signed the JJDPA into law on September 7, 1974, marking a pivotal shift in how states and territories approached youth justice. In a statement issued on September 8, 1974, he emphasized the law’s commitment to reducing delinquency, keeping youth from entering the criminal process, and guaranteeing their procedural and constitutional protections. He described the JJDPA as a "constructive effort" to consolidate policy direction and coordination of federal programs to help states and localities address youth delinquency. President Ford expressed hope that the JJDPA would lead to greater security for all citizens and better lives for young Americans.
The JJDPA was groundbreaking, providing for the first time federal standards and funding for all states and territories, not just for pilot programs. This ensured a minimum level of safety and equitable treatment for young people impacted by the juvenile justice system.
Why was this necessary? A 1976 report by the Children’s Defense Fund highlighted the dire state of youth justice at the time. Up to half a million children were held in adult jails each year. Jurisdictions took a haphazard approach to incarcerating children, with many facing unsafe conditions, maltreatment, and abuse. Over the past 25 years, I’ve worked to improve the treatment of youth in contact with the law, visiting many juvenile detention and correctional facilities as well as adult jails with appalling conditions. I’ve witnessed the harm caused to young bodies and minds and the negative impacts on families.
While we’ve worked collectively to reduce the number of youths being processed through adult criminal courts, too many still face this reality. On the flip side, I’ve seen the positive impact of providing youth with what they need to grow and thrive, such as family and community support, and meeting their basic needs within their neighborhoods.
That vision of a positive future for every young person is what drives me and my colleagues at OJJDP. We are committed to uplifting what works to ensure our young people grow and thrive.
This year’s commemoration underscores the progress we’ve made and the momentum we continue to build. We will conclude the anniversary year with a National Conference hosted by OJJDP on November 19-21 in Washington, D.C. I invite you to join us in celebrating the JJDPA’s golden anniversary and to visit our 50th Anniversary website to learn more about what has been accomplished under the JJDPA and OJJDP’s leadership at ojjdp.ojp.gov.
Thank you, and please spread the word.
