10.7. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 
ALISON S. BURKE 
The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act of 1974 reformed and redefined the philosophy, 
authority, and procedures of the juvenile justice system in the United States. This was the first major federal 
initiative to address juvenile delinquency across the nation. 
1 While historically, the overseeing of juvenile 
matters fell on the states, the JJDP Act established some oversight at the federal level. 
The JJDP Act attached to state funding to reform efforts. For example, one major reform effort involved 
revising policies around secure detention, separating juvenile from adult offenders, and deinstitutionalizing 
status offenders. Status offenders were no longer to be held in secure facilities with delinquent youth. 
2 In 1992, as part of the reauthorization of JJDPA, states were encouraged to identify gaps in their ability 
to provide appropriate services for female juvenile delinquents (42 U.S.C. 5601; OJJDP). The federal 
government expected states to provide specific services for the prevention and treatment of female 
delinquency and prohibit gender bias in the placement, treatment, and programming of female delinquents. 
Campaign for Youth Justice 
http://www.campaignforyouthjustice.org/ 
1. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (1998). Juvenile female offender: A status of the state's report. 
2. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (1998). Juvenile female offender: A status of the state's report. 
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