Juvenile Justice Funding Trends
January 24, 2023
Although juvenile justice has always been administered by the states, the federal government has
played a role through the administration of grant programs. Congress has influenced states’
Emily J. Hanson
juvenile justice systems by authorizing and funding grant programs administered by the
Analyst Social Policy
Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA; P.L. 93-415), enacted in 1974,

was the first comprehensive juvenile justice legislation passed by Congress. The JJDPA
authorized a series of grant programs designed to support state juvenile justice systems and prevent juvenile delinquency.
Since its enactment, the JJDPA has undergone several key amendments, including a significant reorganization in 2002 (by
the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act; P.L. 107-273). Its grant programs were most
recently amended and reauthorized by the Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-385).
Funding for programs authorized by the JJDPA, as well as for other non-JJDPA grant programs administered by OJJDP, is
provided through the Juvenile Justice Programs account in the annual Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
appropriations act. After the restructuring of juvenile justice grant programs in 2002, total funding for these programs began
to decline. This decline generally continued through FY2007, after which funding for these programs started to increase. For
FY2010, Congress provided $424 million for juvenile justice programs—the largest appropriation since FY2003. Juvenile
justice funding then generally declined again from FY2010 through FY2017. After appropriating a low of $247 million for
juvenile justice programs in FY2017, Congress increased juvenile justice funding annually from FY2018 through FY2023.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328), provided $400 million for juvenile justice programs for
FY2023—the largest appropriation since FY2010.
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he federal government has no juvenile justice system of its own. Rather, juvenile justice is
administered by the states. The federal government, though, seeks to influence states’
T juvenile justice systems through the administration of grant programs and the provision of
funds.1
This report provides a brief overview of funding for the juvenile justice-related grant programs
administered by the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention (OJJDP).
Juvenile Justice Legislation and Grant Programs
A number of federally funded juvenile justice grant programs are authorized by the Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (JJDPA, P.L. 93-415). Since its enactment, the
JJDPA has been revised by several key amendments, including a significant reorganization in
2002 (by the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act; P.L. 107-273).
Its grant programs were most recently amended and reauthorized by the Juvenile Justice Reform
Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-385).
The JJDPA as originally enacted had three main components: (1) it established OJJDP to
coordinate and administer federal juvenile justice efforts; (2) it created grant programs to assist
states with their juvenile justice systems; and (3) it promulgated core mandates to which states
must adhere in order to be eligible for certain grant funding. Although the JJDPA has been
amended several times over the past 40+ years, it continues to feature these three components.
The JJDPA has been the primary channel through which the federal government has provided
juvenile justice funding to states. However, other programs also administered by OJJDP have
contributed to overall federal juvenile justice funding.
The following section outlines various juvenile justice grant programs, including those authorized
by the JJDPA. Grants noted in this section have been congressionally authorized at some point in
time and have received an appropriation at least once in the 10-year period from FY2014 through
FY2023. Congress has also provided appropriations for juvenile justice programs that do not have
separate authorizations of appropriations; these programs are not discussed in this section, but
they are included in Table 1, which outlines funding for juvenile justice programs since FY2014.
State Formula Grant Program
The JJDPA authorizes OJJDP to make formula grants to states2 for the planning, establishment,
operation, coordination, and evaluation of projects that develop more effective juvenile
delinquency programs and improve juvenile justice systems.3 Funds are allocated annually based
on each state’s relative population of people under age 18. States must adhere to certain core
mandates to receive their funding.4 The Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-385)

1 For more information on the legislative history of juvenile justice and details on the grant programs outlined in this
report, refer to CRS Report RL33947, Juvenile Justice: Legislative History and Current Legislative Issues.
2 The term state includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories (American Samoa, Guam, the
Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
3 34 U.S.C. §11131.
4 There are four core mandates with which—unless for specified exceptions—states must generally comply: states must
keep status offenders (such as truants) out of secure detention or correctional facilities; states cannot detain or confine
juveniles in facilities in which they would have contact with adult inmates; juveniles cannot be detained or confined in
any jail or lockup for adults; and states must show that they are working to address racial and ethnic disparities within
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Juvenile Justice Funding Trends

amended and reauthorized this program through FY2023. For FY2023, this program was
appropriated $75 million (P.L. 117-328).
Title V Incentive Youth Promise Grants for Local Delinquency
Prevention
The JJDPA authorizes OJJDP to make grants to states5, which are then transmitted through
subgrants to units of local government (or nonprofits in partnership with units of local
government) for delinquency prevention programs for juveniles who have come into contact with,
or are at risk to come into contact with, the juvenile justice system.6 The Juvenile Justice Reform
Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-385) amended and reauthorized this program through FY2023. The JJDPA
also authorizes OJJDP to make grants to eligible Indian tribes to support delinquency prevention
programs for at-risk youth or those who have come into contact with the juvenile justice system.
Traditionally, Congress dedicates amounts from the total appropriation for the Title V program for
specific programs and purposes areas (e.g., the Tribal Youth program or preventing gang
violence). For FY2023, this program was appropriated $65 million (P.L. 117-328).
Victims of Child Abuse Act Grants
The Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 (Title II of the Crime Control Act of 1990, P.L. 101-647)
authorizes several grant programs administered by OJJDP.
Subtitle A authorizes support for regional and local Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs),
including state chapters, and for related training and technical assistance (34 U.S.C. §§20301-
20307). The CAC program was most recently reauthorized (through FY2028) via Section 3 of the
Respect for Child Survivors Act (P.L. 117-354). For FY2023, it received $41 million (P.L. 117-
328).
Subtitle B authorizes support for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) (34 U.S.C.
§§20321-20323) and Subtitle C authorizes training of judicial personnel to improve handling of
child abuse and neglect proceedings (34 U.S.C. §§20331-20334). Funding for these activities was
most recently reauthorized through FY2027 in the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization
Act of 2022 (Division W of P.L. 117-103). For FY2023, CASA received $15 million and the
training program received about $5 million (P.L. 117-328).
Juvenile Mentoring Program
The Juvenile Mentoring Program was authorized by the Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency
Prevention Programs Act (P.L. 102-586). Grants under this program are awarded to local
educational agencies (in partnership with public or private agencies) to establish and support
mentoring programs to reduce delinquent behavior, improve scholastic performance, and reduce
school dropouts.7 The program has continued to receive appropriations even though its

their juvenile justice systems.
5 The term state includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories (American Samoa, Guam, the
Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
6 34 U.S.C. §11313.
7 For more information on the Juvenile Mentoring Program and youth mentoring, see CRS Report RL34306,
Vulnerable Youth: Federal Mentoring Programs and Issues.
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Juvenile Justice Funding Trends

authorization was repealed (P.L. 107-273). For FY2023, this program was appropriated $107
million (P.L. 117-328).
Juvenile Justice Appropriations
Congress appropriates funding for programs authorized by the JJDPA as well as for other non-
JJDPA juvenile justice grant programs through the Juvenile Justice Programs account in the
annual Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Figure 1 shows
total appropriations for juvenile justice programs from FY2002 through FY2023.
Figure 1. Total Juvenile Justice Programs Appropriations, FY2002-FY2023
(dollars in millions)

Sources: FY2002 enacted taken from H.Rept. 107-278. FY2003 enacted taken from H.Rept. 108-10. FY2004
enacted taken from H.Rept. 108-401. FY2005 enacted taken from H.Rept. 108-792. FY2006 enacted taken from
H.Rept. 109-272. FY2007 appropriation is based on FY2006 enacted minus a 1.28% rescission, as per P.L. 110-5.
FY2008 enacted taken from P.L. 110-161. FY2009 enacted taken from P.L. 111-8. FY2010 enacted taken from
P.L. 111-117. FY2011 enacted based on a CRS analysis of the text of P.L. 112-10. FY2012 enacted taken from P.L.
112-55. FY2013 amount provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. FY2014 enacted taken from P.L. 113-76.
FY2015 enacted taken from P.L. 113-235. FY2016 enacted taken from P.L. 114-113. FY2017 enacted taken from
P.L. 115-31. FY2018 enacted taken from P.L. 115-141. FY2019 enacted taken from P.L. 116-6. FY2020 enacted
taken from P.L. 116-93. FY2021 enacted taken from P.L. 116-260. FY2022 enacted taken from P.L. 117-103.
FY2023 enacted taken from P.L. 117-328.
Notes: Numbers are rounded. Amounts are in nominal dol ars. The amounts include all rescissions of current
year budget authority. The FY2013 funding level also reflects sequestration pursuant to the Budget Control Act
of 2011 (P.L. 112-25). JJDPA = Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (P.L. 93-415).
Funding for juvenile justice programs peaked in 2002 at $565 million. From FY2002 to FY2007,
however, overall funding fell by 38% to $348 million. The majority of this reduction came from
cuts to the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) program.8 Appropriations for JABG fell

8 Although the authorization for the JABG program was not a part of the JJDPA, it nevertheless was administered by
OJJDP. The JABG program authorized the Attorney General to make grants to states and units of local government to
strengthen their juvenile justice systems, including holding juveniles accountable for their actions. Authorization for
this program expired in FY2009, but Congress continued to provide appropriations through FY2013.
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from a high of $250 million in FY2002 to $49 million in FY2007. From FY2007 to FY2010, total
funding for juvenile justice programs increased by almost 22% to $424 million, with funding for
JJDPA programs increasing by 27% to $331 million over this same period. This was the largest
juvenile justice appropriation since FY2003.
Funding for juvenile justice programs again began to decline in FY2011, and that decline
generally continued through FY2017. From FY2010 to FY2017, total funding for juvenile justice
programs decreased by nearly 42%, from $424 million to $247 million. Contributing to this drop,
Congress eliminated funding for the Challenge Grants9 in FY2011 and for the JABG program in
FY2014. During this time period, Congress also started appropriating funding for programs that
had not previously been funded under the Juvenile Justice Programs account, including funding
for missing and exploited children programs, child abuse training programs for judicial personnel
and practitioners, and grants and technical assistance in support of a National Forum on Youth
Violence Prevention.
After appropriating $247 million for juvenile justice programs in FY2017, Congress increased
juvenile funding annually from FY2018 through FY2022. Congress increased funding for
juvenile justice programs to nearly $283 million for FY2018, and it included funds for a new
Opioid Affected Youth Initiative. Congress again increased juvenile justice program funding to
$287 million in FY2019, and it set aside money for an initiative serving children exposed to
violence.10 Congress then increased funding for juvenile justice programs to $320 million for
FY2020 and included a new set-aside from the Title V Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency
Prevention for grants to prevent trafficking of girls. Congress continued to increase funding for
FY2021 and FY2022, and Congress most recently appropriated $400 million for juvenile justice
programs for FY2023—the largest appropriation since the $424 million provided in FY2010.
Historical Appropriations by Program
Table 1 provides a breakdown of funding for the Juvenile Justice Programs account by program
for the 10-year period from FY2014 to FY2023.
Appropriations for specific programs in the Juvenile Justice Programs account can vary from year
to year. In addition, Congress sometimes provides funding for programs as a specific line item in
the Juvenile Justice Programs account, but in other years funding for those programs is provided
as a set-aside from another program in the account. For example, the Community Based Violence
Prevention Initiative and the Competitive Grants Focusing on Girls in the Juvenile Justice System
Program have received line item appropriations in some fiscal years and have been funded by set-
asides from the Title V Incentive Grants Program in other years. By contrast, some programs,
when funded, have consistently been funded through set-asides from the Title V program (e.g.,
the Tribal Youth program).

9 The Challenge Grants program authorized OJJDP to make discretionary grants to state, local, and tribal governments
and private entities to carry out programs to develop, test, or demonstrate promising new initiatives that may prevent,
control, or reduce juvenile delinquency. The program last received appropriations in FY2010.
10 Funding for this purpose was previously provided under the State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Account
from FY2012 to FY2016.
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Table 1. Juvenile Justice Appropriations by Program, FY2014-FY2023
(dollars in millions)
Program
FY2014 FY2015
FY2016 FY2017 FY2018
FY2019
FY2020 FY2021
FY2022 FY2023
State Formula Grants
56
55
58
55
60
60
63
67
70
75
Emergency Planning—
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
Juvenile Detention Facilities
Juvenile Mentoring Program Grant
89
90
90
80
94
95
97
100
102
107
Title V Incentive Grants for Local
15
15
18
15
28
25
42
49
50
65
Delinquency Prevention
Community Gang Prevention
(3)
(3)
(5)
(4)
(4)
—
—
—
—
—
Tribal Youth Program
(5)
(5)
(10)
—
(5)
(5)
(5)
(10)
(14)
(17)
Enforcing Underage Drinking
(3)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Laws
Juvenile Justice and Education
(5)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Collaboration Assistance
Community-Based Violence
—
(6)
—
(8)
(8)
—
—
—
—
—
Prevention Initiative
National Forum on Youth Violence
—
(1)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Prevention
Children of Incarcerated Parents
—
—
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
Web Portal
Competitive Grants Focusing on
—
—
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(3)
(5)
(6)
Girls in the Juvenile Justice System
Opioid Affected Youth Initiative
—
—
—
—
(8)
(9)
(10)
(10)
(12)
(13)
Children Exposed to Violence
—
—
—
—
—
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(10)
Initiative
Prevention of Trafficking of Girls
—
—
—
—
—
—
(2)
(2)
(4)
(5)
Vulnerable and At-Risk Youth
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(3)
(2)
Initiative
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Program
FY2014 FY2015
FY2016 FY2017 FY2018
FY2019
FY2020 FY2021
FY2022 FY2023
Victims of Child Abuse Act
19
19
20
21
21
23
27
30
33
41
Community-Based Violence
6
—a
8
—a
—a
—
—
—
—
—
Prevention Initiative
Missing and Exploited Children
67
68
72
73
76
82
88
94
99
105
Child Abuse Training
2
2
2
2
2
3
4
4
4
5
National Forum on Youth Violence
1
—b
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Prevention
Competitive Grants Focusing on
1
2
—c
—c
—c
—c
—c
—c
—c
—c
Girls in the Juvenile Justice System
Children of Incarcerated Parents
1
1
—c
—c
—c
—c
—c
—c
—c
—c
Web Portal
Improving Indigent Defense
—
—
3
2
2
—
—
3
3
3
Total Juvenile Justice
255
252
270
247
283
287
320
346
360
400
Appropriation
Sources: FY2014 enacted taken from P.L. 113-76. FY2015 enacted taken from P.L. 113-235. FY2016 enacted taken from P.L. 114-113. FY2017 enacted taken from P.L.
115-31. FY2018 enacted taken from P.L. 115-141. FY2019 enacted taken from P.L. 116-6. FY2020 enacted taken from P.L. 116-93. FY2021 enacted taken from P.L. 116-
260. FY2022 enacted taken from P.L. 117-103. FY2023 enacted taken from P.L. 117-328.
Notes: Numbers in parentheses are nonadds that have been set aside from other grant programs. Amounts may not add to totals due to rounding. Amounts are in
nominal dol ars.
a. For FY2015, FY2017, and FY2018, funding for the Community-Based Violence Prevention Initiative was appropriated as set-aside funding from the Title V Incentive
Grants.
b. For FY2015, funding for the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention was appropriated as set-aside funding from the Title V Incentive Grants.
c. For FY2016-FY2023, funding for the Competitive Grants Focusing on Girls in the Juvenile Justice System and the Children of Incarcerated Parents Web Portal was
appropriated as set-aside funding from the Title V Incentive Grants.
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Juvenile Justice Funding Trends

Author Information

Emily J. Hanson

Analyst Social Policy

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