Whitehouse and Grassley led the last reauthorization effort, which became law in 2018
Washington, DC – Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2024, renewing their years-long effort to protect and improve outcomes for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The senators’ new bipartisan legislation would reauthorize key grant programs, empower local community stakeholders, and close harmful loopholes to bolster federal protections for kids involved in the justice system.
“Senator Grassley has been my stalwart partner over the years in strengthening protections for kids in the justice system. I’m very pleased to launch our latest effort together to ensure that young people receive age-appropriate, community-centered support to stay out of the juvenile justice system, and have a better chance to get their lives back on track after getting out,” said Whitehouse, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a former Rhode Island Attorney General and U.S. Attorney.
“Kids in our juvenile justice system ought to receive safe, fair treatment that encourages respect for the law and, ultimately, smooth transitions back to their communities,” said Grassley, a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “The federal juvenile justice program should ensure minors receive adequate protections from these centers operating on the taxpayer’s dime. Our bipartisan bill builds off decades of work to strengthen the core tenets of this critical program, and I thank Senator Whitehouse for his continued partnership.”
The senators’ bill would update and reauthorize through 2029 the Charles Grassley Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention grants, which provide funding for states to improve their juvenile justice systems, promote delinquency prevention, and comply with federally mandated protections for kids in the justice system. The bill also reauthorizes the Youth PROMISE grant program, the only federal program that provides delinquency prevention funding directly to local communities to reach at-risk youth, and the Tribal Youth program, which provides increased funding for Tribal delinquency prevention programs in response to overrepresentation of Tribal youth in the juvenile justice system.
The legislation would also update the Charles Grassley Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program to:
- Allow state and local stakeholders to better tailor their juvenile justice systems to fit the needs of their communities;
- Improve the effectiveness of State Juvenile Justice Advisory Groups by ensuring they reflect the communities and age groups they serve; and
- Eliminate harmful loopholes in existing law to bolster federal protections for kids involved in the justice system.
The bill is endorsed by Coalition for Juvenile Justice, Act4JJ Coalition, Association of Children’s Residential & Community Services, Tides Family Services, Boys Town, Healthy Teen Network, Human Rights for Kids, Huntington Learning Center, Justice and Joy National Collaborative, Juvenile Law Center, National Association of Counsel for Children, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, National Network for Youth, National Youth Justice Network, Rights4Girls, Sentencing Project, United Women in Faith, Youth First Justice Collaborative, and Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children, and the Courts.
“The Coalition for Juvenile Justice is grateful to Senator Whitehouse and Senator Grassley for their leadership and support for the reauthorization of the JJDPA. This year marks the 50th anniversary of this critical legislation, and we are optimistic that Congress will recognize this milestone as an opportunity to continue to prioritize programs and investments that aim to reduce delinquency and improve the juvenile justice system. Reauthorization of the JJDPA is a critical step towards a fairer and more effective justice system by affirming core protections for justice-involved youth, addressing systemic disparities, and supporting prevention and early intervention,” said Melissa Milchman, Executive Director of Coalition for Juvenile Justice.
“Arrest and incarceration of young people under 18 have declined by 75% since their height in the late 90’s. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act has been a cornerstone of that positive change,” said Lisette Burton, Chief Policy and Practice Advisor for the Association of Children’s Residential and Community Services and Co-Chair of the Act4JJ Coalition. “With the introduction of legislation to reauthorize this critical act, Senator Whitehouse and Senator Grassley continue to lead the way in affirming what the brain science and our Supreme Court have confirmed time and again: that children are different from adults, with limitless potential to grow and change. Continued federal investment in locally-driven solutions, coupled with accountability and core protections for young people, prevents system contact, provides effective intervention when needed, and supports safe communities across the country.”
“As we move forward with the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2024, I can’t help but reflect on Brother Michael Reis, who devoted his life to transforming the lives of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable children. His relationship with Senator Whitehouse dates back to the Senator’s time as Rhode Island’s Attorney General, when both shared a profound commitment to justice and reform for those often overlooked by the system. Together, they championed the belief that every child deserves a second chance—a principle that defined Brother Michael’s life’s work. Brother Michael’s passion for systemic change, his compassion and his relentless advocacy for children also inspired a generation of leaders. This reauthorization is a reflection of the values he championed at Tides Family Services—compassion, equity, and the belief that every child, no matter their circumstances, deserves dignity and opportunity. Funding challenges never swayed him from focusing on the least, the last, and the lost. As we look at policy today, Brother Michael’s spirit calls on us to make sure that our youth, especially those who are underserved, have the support, services, and opportunities they need to rise above their challenges,” said Beth Lemme-Bixby, Chief Executive Officer of Tides Family Services.
In 2018, Whitehouse and Grassley championed the long-overdue Senate reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The legislation took steps to reduce the unnecessary incarceration of youth, improve safeguards for minors who encounter the justice system, and strengthen services that encourage a smooth transition back into society. Before passage of Whitehouse and Grassley’s bill in 2018, the program had not been updated since 2002. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act was first passed into law in 1974.
Senator Whitehouse also introduced a bicameral resolution yesterday designating October 2024 as National Youth Justice Action Month. The Senate resolution raises awareness about the collateral consequences youth face when they are treated as adults in the criminal justice system, and encourages the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to fully implement the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018.
The text of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act can be found here.
