Juvenile Justice Funding Trends
Juvenile Justice Funding Trends
April 9, 2024
Although juvenile justice is generally the purview of the states, the federal government has
played a role through the administration of grant programs. Congress has influenced states’
Kristin Finklea
juvenile justice systems by authorizing and funding grant programs administered by the
Specialist in Domestic
Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
Security
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 largest appropriation since FY2010—before decreasing it for FY2024. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L.
118-42), provides $375 million for juvenile justice programs for FY2024.
Congressional Research Service
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Contents
Juvenile Justice Legislation and Grant Programs ............................................................................ 1
State Formula Grant Program ................................................................................................... 1
Title V Incentive Youth Promise Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention ............................ 2
Victims of Child Abuse Act Grants ........................................................................................... 2
Juvenile Mentoring Program ..................................................................................................... 2
Total Juvenile Justice Appropriations .............................................................................................. 3
Historical Appropriations by Program ...................................................................................... 4
Figures
Figure 1. Total Juvenile Justice Programs Appropriations, FY2000-FY2024 ................................. 3
Tables
Table 1. Juvenile Justice Appropriations by Program, FY2015-FY2024 ........................................ 6
Contacts
Author Information .......................................................................................................................... 8
Congressional Research Service
link to page 9 Juvenile Justice Funding Trends
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).
Most recently, its grant programs were 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. Grant programs 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 FY2015
through FY2024. 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 FY2015.
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 In this report, 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
(continued...)
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Juvenile Justice Funding Trends
amended the program and reauthorized its funding through FY2023. While its authorization of
appropriations has expired, the program has continued to receive funding. For FY2024, this
program was appropriated $65 million (P.L. 118-42).
Title V Incentive Youth Promise Grants for Local Delinquency
Prevention
The JJDPA authorizes OJJDP to make grants to states, 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.5 The Juvenile Justice Reform
Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-385) amended the program and reauthorized its funding 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). While
its authorization of appropriations has expired, the program has continued to receive funding. For
FY2024, this program was appropriated $55 million (P.L. 118-42).
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 FY2024, it received $41 million (P.L. 118-
42).
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 FY2024, CASA received $14 million and the
training program received nearly $5 million (P.L. 118-42).6
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
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
their juvenile justice systems.
5 34 U.S.C. §11313.
6 CASA is funded out of the State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance account rather than the Juvenile Justice
Programs account; training for judicial personnel to improve handling of child abuse and neglect proceedings is funded
out of the Juvenile Justice Programs account.
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Juvenile Justice Funding Trends
school dropouts.7 The program has continued to receive funding even though it was repealed in
the 2002 JJDPA reauthorization (P.L. 107-273). For FY2024, this program was appropriated $104
million (P.L. 118-42).
Total 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 for the 25-year period from FY2000 through
FY2024.
Figure 1. Total Juvenile Justice Programs Appropriations, FY2000-FY2024
(dollars in millions)
Sources: FY2000 enacted taken from P.L. 106-113. FY2001 enacted taken from P.L. 106-553. FY2002 enacted
taken from P.L. 107-77. FY2003 enacted taken from P.L. 108-7. FY2004 taken from P.L. 108-199. FY2005 taken
from P.L. 108-447. FY2006 taken from P.L. 109-108. 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. FY2024 enacted taken from P.L. 118-
42.
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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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 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 and child abuse training programs for judicial
personnel and practitioners.
After appropriating $247 million for juvenile justice programs in FY2017, Congress increased
juvenile justice funding annually from FY2018 through FY2023. Congress increased funding for
juvenile justice programs to nearly $283 million for FY2018, which 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 JJDPA Title V Incentive Grant program for grants
to prevent trafficking of girls. Congress continued to increase funding for FY2021 through
FY2023, when it appropriated $400 million for juvenile justice programs—the largest
appropriation since the $424 million provided in FY2010. Congress most recently decreased
funding for juvenile justice programs, appropriating $375 million for FY2024. This included a
$10 million reduction in funding for the JJDPA Title II State Formula Grants and a $10 million
reduction for the JJDPA Title V Incentive Grants.
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 FY2015 to FY2024.
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, Web Portal for Children of Incarcerated Parents, and Competitive Grants
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.
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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Juvenile Justice Funding Trends
Focusing on Girls in the Juvenile Justice System 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).
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Table 1. Juvenile Justice Appropriations by Program, FY2015-FY2024
(dollars in millions)
Program
FY2015
FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
FY2020
FY2021
FY2022 FY2023 FY2024
State Formula Grants
55
58
55
60
60
63
67
70
75
65
Emergency Planning—
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
Juvenile Detention Facilities
Juvenile Mentoring Program Grant
90
90
80
94
95
97
100
102
107
104
Title V Incentive Grants for Local
15
18
15
28
25
42
49
50
65
55
Delinquency Prevention
Tribal Youth Program
(5)
(10)
—
(5)
(5)
(5)
(10)
(14)
(17)
(16)
Gang Prevention
(3)
(5)
(4)
(4)
—
—
—
—
—
—
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
Girls in the Juvenile Justice System
—
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(3)
(5)
(6)
(5)
Opioid Affected Youth Initiative
—
—
—
(8)
(9)
(10)
(10)
(12)
(13)
(11)
Children Exposed to Violence
—
—
—
—
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(10)
(9)
Initiative
Prevention of Trafficking of Girls
—
—
—
—
—
(2)
(2)
(4)
(5)
(4)
Vulnerable and At-Risk Youth
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(3)
(2)
—
Initiative
Victims of Child Abuse Act
19
20
21
21
23
27
30
33
41
41
Community-Based Violence
—a
8
—a
—a
—
—
—
—
—
—
Prevention Initiative
Training for Judicial Personnel
2
2
2
2
3
4
4
4
5
5
CRS-6
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Program
FY2015
FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
FY2020
FY2021
FY2022 FY2023 FY2024
Missing and Exploited Children
68
72
73
76
82
88
94
99
105
103
Competitive Grants Focusing on
2
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
Girls in the Juvenile Justice System
Children of Incarcerated Parents
1
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
Web Portal
Improving Indigent Defense
—
3
2
2
—
—
3
3
3
3
Total Juvenile Justice
252
270
247
283
287
320
346
360
400
375
Appropriation
Sources: 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. FY2024 enacted taken from P.L. 118-42.
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 FY2016-FY2024, 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.
CRS-7
Juvenile Justice Funding Trends
Author Information
Kristin Finklea
Specialist in Domestic Security
Acknowledgments
An earlier version of this report was authored by former CRS Analyst Emily J. Hanson.
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
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material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to
copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
Congressional Research Service
R44879 · VERSION 17 · UPDATED
8
April 9, 2024
Although juvenile justice is generally the purview of the states, the federal government has
played a role through the administration of grant programs. Congress has influenced states’
Kristin Finklea
juvenile justice systems by authorizing and funding grant programs administered by the
Specialist in Domestic
Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
Security
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 largest appropriation since FY2010—before decreasing it for FY2024. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L.
118-42), provides $375 million for juvenile justice programs for FY2024.
Congressional Research Service
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Contents
Juvenile Justice Legislation and Grant Programs ............................................................................ 1
State Formula Grant Program ................................................................................................... 1
Title V Incentive Youth Promise Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention ............................ 2
Victims of Child Abuse Act Grants ........................................................................................... 2
Juvenile Mentoring Program ..................................................................................................... 2
Total Juvenile Justice Appropriations .............................................................................................. 3
Historical Appropriations by Program ...................................................................................... 4
Figures
Figure 1. Total Juvenile Justice Programs Appropriations, FY2000-FY2024 ................................. 3
Tables
Table 1. Juvenile Justice Appropriations by Program, FY2015-FY2024 ........................................ 6
Contacts
Author Information .......................................................................................................................... 8
Congressional Research Service
link to page 9 Juvenile Justice Funding Trends
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).
Most recently, its grant programs were 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. Grant programs 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 FY2015
through FY2024. 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 FY2015.
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 In this report, 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
(continued...)
Congressional Research Service
1
Juvenile Justice Funding Trends
amended the program and reauthorized its funding through FY2023. While its authorization of
appropriations has expired, the program has continued to receive funding. For FY2024, this
program was appropriated $65 million (P.L. 118-42).
Title V Incentive Youth Promise Grants for Local Delinquency
Prevention
The JJDPA authorizes OJJDP to make grants to states, 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.5 The Juvenile Justice Reform
Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-385) amended the program and reauthorized its funding 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). While
its authorization of appropriations has expired, the program has continued to receive funding. For
FY2024, this program was appropriated $55 million (P.L. 118-42).
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 FY2024, it received $41 million (P.L. 118-
42).
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 FY2024, CASA received $14 million and the
training program received nearly $5 million (P.L. 118-42).6
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
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
their juvenile justice systems.
5 34 U.S.C. §11313.
6 CASA is funded out of the State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance account rather than the Juvenile Justice
Programs account; training for judicial personnel to improve handling of child abuse and neglect proceedings is funded
out of the Juvenile Justice Programs account.
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school dropouts.7 The program has continued to receive funding even though it was repealed in
the 2002 JJDPA reauthorization (P.L. 107-273). For FY2024, this program was appropriated $104
million (P.L. 118-42).
Total 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 for the 25-year period from FY2000 through
FY2024.
Figure 1. Total Juvenile Justice Programs Appropriations, FY2000-FY2024
(dollars in millions)
Sources: FY2000 enacted taken from P.L. 106-113. FY2001 enacted taken from P.L. 106-553. FY2002 enacted
taken from P.L. 107-77. FY2003 enacted taken from P.L. 108-7. FY2004 taken from P.L. 108-199. FY2005 taken
from P.L. 108-447. FY2006 taken from P.L. 109-108. 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. FY2024 enacted taken from P.L. 118-
42.
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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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 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 and child abuse training programs for judicial
personnel and practitioners.
After appropriating $247 million for juvenile justice programs in FY2017, Congress increased
juvenile justice funding annually from FY2018 through FY2023. Congress increased funding for
juvenile justice programs to nearly $283 million for FY2018, which 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 JJDPA Title V Incentive Grant program for grants
to prevent trafficking of girls. Congress continued to increase funding for FY2021 through
FY2023, when it appropriated $400 million for juvenile justice programs—the largest
appropriation since the $424 million provided in FY2010. Congress most recently decreased
funding for juvenile justice programs, appropriating $375 million for FY2024. This included a
$10 million reduction in funding for the JJDPA Title II State Formula Grants and a $10 million
reduction for the JJDPA Title V Incentive Grants.
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 FY2015 to FY2024.
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, Web Portal for Children of Incarcerated Parents, and Competitive Grants
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.
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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Focusing on Girls in the Juvenile Justice System 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).
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Table 1. Juvenile Justice Appropriations by Program, FY2015-FY2024
(dollars in millions)
Program
FY2015
FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
FY2020
FY2021
FY2022 FY2023 FY2024
State Formula Grants
55
58
55
60
60
63
67
70
75
65
Emergency Planning—
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
Juvenile Detention Facilities
Juvenile Mentoring Program Grant
90
90
80
94
95
97
100
102
107
104
Title V Incentive Grants for Local
15
18
15
28
25
42
49
50
65
55
Delinquency Prevention
Tribal Youth Program
(5)
(10)
—
(5)
(5)
(5)
(10)
(14)
(17)
(16)
Gang Prevention
(3)
(5)
(4)
(4)
—
—
—
—
—
—
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
Girls in the Juvenile Justice System
—
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(3)
(5)
(6)
(5)
Opioid Affected Youth Initiative
—
—
—
(8)
(9)
(10)
(10)
(12)
(13)
(11)
Children Exposed to Violence
—
—
—
—
(8)
(8)
(8)
(8)
(10)
(9)
Initiative
Prevention of Trafficking of Girls
—
—
—
—
—
(2)
(2)
(4)
(5)
(4)
Vulnerable and At-Risk Youth
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(3)
(2)
—
Initiative
Victims of Child Abuse Act
19
20
21
21
23
27
30
33
41
41
Community-Based Violence
—a
8
—a
—a
—
—
—
—
—
—
Prevention Initiative
Training for Judicial Personnel
2
2
2
2
3
4
4
4
5
5
CRS-6
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Program
FY2015
FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
FY2020
FY2021
FY2022 FY2023 FY2024
Missing and Exploited Children
68
72
73
76
82
88
94
99
105
103
Competitive Grants Focusing on
2
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
Girls in the Juvenile Justice System
Children of Incarcerated Parents
1
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
—b
Web Portal
Improving Indigent Defense
—
3
2
2
—
—
3
3
3
3
Total Juvenile Justice
252
270
247
283
287
320
346
360
400
375
Appropriation
Sources: 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. FY2024 enacted taken from P.L. 118-42.
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 FY2016-FY2024, 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
Kristin Finklea
Specialist in Domestic Security
Acknowledgments
An earlier version of this report was authored by former CRS Analyst Emily J. Hanson.
Disclaimer
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Congressional Research Service
R44879 · VERSION 17 · UPDATED
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