ALEXANDRIA, Va., (July 24, 2015) — Yesterday,
the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that would reauthorize the
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA). The bill’s passage by
the committee is an important first step to improve and strengthen the juvenile
justice system in the United States. The JJDPA, which was signed into law in
1974 and last reauthorized in 2002, prevents children and youth from entering
the juvenile justice system and protects those currently in the system.
“While the impact of the JJDPA over
the last 40 years has been remarkable, reauthorization of the law is long
overdue and improvements need to be made to the nation’s juvenile justice
system. Loopholes in the JJDPA and amendments made to the law over the years
have weakened its protections and resulted in thousands of children and youth
being detained for minor offenses,” said Laura Bay, president of National PTA. “National PTA applauds the Senate Judiciary Committee and
the leadership of Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) for passing
the bipartisan Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2015. We commend their commitment to improving the
juvenile justice system for our nation’s youth.”
The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2015
would improve current law by:
- Ensuring the continuity of children’s education
while detained and a smooth transition back into the classroom after;
- Providing guidance to states to
reduce racial and ethnic disparities among youth in the juvenile justice
system;
- Making sure detained youth are
kept separate from adults; and
- Phasing out exemptions that allow
youth detainment for minor offenses.
“National PTA has advocated for a
fair, safe and rehabilitative justice system for children for more than one
hundred years. The association continues to encourage and support policies and
programs that work to prevent juvenile delinquency and provide youth in the
system with services to help them become productive members of society,” added
Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director. “We remain committed to
working with Congress to ensure a JJDPA reauthorization bill is signed into law
that enhances protections for youth and helps every child reach his or her full
potential.”
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