The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act
Alaska receives federal grant funds appropriated by Congress under the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDP Act) of 1974, as amended, to develop effective delinquency prevention and intervention programs. These funds are administered through the State of Alaska’s Department of Family and Community Services, Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), with assistance from the Alaska Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (AJJAC).
To qualify for these funds, Alaska must comply with the following four core mandates of the JJDP Act. The mandates are based on research that shows these practices reduce the risk of harm to incarcerated youth. Alaska’s 3-year plan is available online here.
Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders
Youth who are charged with status offenses should not be placed in locked detention or correctional facilities. Status offenses are behaviors that are not criminal when committed by adults, such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and violating curfew.
Sight and Sound Separation of Juvenile and Adult Offenders
Youth who are temporarily held in adult jails or lock-ups should not have sight or sound with adult inmates.
Removal of Juveniles from Adult Jails and Lock-ups
Youth who are accused of delinquent acts should not be held for processing in adult jails or lock-ups for more than 6 hours.
Racial & Ethnic Disparities (R/ED) in the Juvenile Justice System
Any overrepresentation of minority youth in the Juvenile Justice System should be identified and eliminated. The Division of Juvenile Justice monitors R/ED data at five collection points:
- Arrest;
- Diversion;
- Pre-trial Detention;
- Disposition Commitments; and
- Adult Waiver / Transfers.
About AJJAC
Contact Information
State of Alaska
Dept of Family and Community Services
Division of Juvenile Justice
PO Box 110635
Juneau, AK 99811-0635
Email: hss.djj@alaska.gov