Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act

Congress enacted the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act (P. L. No. 93-415, 42 U.S.C. § 5601 et seq. ) in 1974 and reauthorized  the majority of its provisions in 2002. The JJDP Act mandates that states comply with four core protections to participate in the JJDP Act's Formula Grants program. This landmark legislation established OJJDP to support local and state efforts to prevent delinquency and improve the juvenile justice system.