This bill reauthorizes federal funding for juvenile justice programs under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act from fiscal years 2025 through 2029. The legislation makes significant changes to how states handle youth in the juvenile justice system, including stricter limits on holding juveniles in adult jails and secure detention facilities, particularly for status offenses like truancy or running away. Key provisions require states to eliminate secure confinement for youth charged with status offenses by September 30, 2028, though limited exceptions exist for interstate cases, and establish a 7-day maximum detention period with court hearings and written justifications. The bill also expands eligible programs that states can fund to include diversion initiatives, restorative justice practices, programs addressing racial and ethnic disparities, and efforts to collect data on youth in the justice system. Additionally, it adds new protections for juveniles treated as adults in the criminal justice system, requiring that they have no contact with adult inmates unless a court determines it is in the interest of justice and conducting review hearings at least every 30 to 45 days.
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