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Criminal-Juvenile

Federal Mandates on State Juvenile Justice Matters

Issue:    Federal Mandates on State Juvenile Justice Matters
Impact:            Substantial federal funds would be contingent upon changes in many state juvenile justice procedures in proposed legislation in the 106th Congress.
Summary: In the 106th Congress both the House and Senate bills (S. 254 and H.R. 1501) began as scaled down versions of the prior Congress' juvenile block grant bill and they escalated into major "crime bills" which never got out of conference. This Congress, the House has moved on two juvenile justice bills (H.R. 863 & H.R. 1900) H.R. 863 would, essentially, authorize a juvenile block grant in existence on a year-by-year basis in appropriations bills. To be eligible, states must merely have graduated sanctions for their juvenile "defendants". The block grants are in the form of revenue sharing and state courts are not directly eligible. H.R. 1900 would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act through FY 2006; it would also double the time youths could be incarcerated with adults before their initial court appearance.
Position: "Federal policy makers should be especially cautious about establishing national policy for juvenile justice, as there is little federal system experience in this extremely complex area. Any legislation should recognize the need to share funding equitably, and take advantage of the variations in state juvenile systems, and emphasize flexibility in program administration." (COSCA White Paper, A State Court Perspective on Federal Juvenile Justice Legislation - S. 254/H.R. 1501)
References:
  • The Consequences for Juvenile Offenders Act of 2001 (H.R. 863)
  • Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2001 (H.R. 1900)
  • 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act (H.R. 2215)
  • COSCA White Paper, A State Court Perspective on Federal Juvenile Justice Legislation - S. 254/H.R. 1501
  • "Juvenile Justice Bill Signed by the President", by José Dimas
Support Materials: No additional materials

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