WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ending six years of partisan gridlock on efforts to reauthorize federal juvenile justice programs, President Bush on Saturday signed into law legislation authored by Rep. Jim Greenwood (R-PA) to give states and local governments more freedom to reduce juvenile crime. The Greenwood legislation consolidates a number of existing juvenile justice programs into a single, flexible juvenile crime and delinquency prevention block grant for states and local communities.

The House-Senate Conference Committee on H.R. 2215, the Department of Justice authorization bill, incorporated the Greenwood bill (H.R. 1900, the Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention Act), into its final conference report. The legislation was co-authored by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA). Three previous Congresses (the 104th, 105th, and 106th) tried and failed to pass juvenile justice legislation. The authorization for DOJ's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency expired on September 30, 1996.

“I am pleased that after more than six years of working on legislation to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, it is finally a reality. This legislation acknowledges that most successful solutions to juvenile crime are developed at the state and local level of government by those individuals who understand the unique characteristics of youth in their area," said Greenwood, a member of the House Education & the Workforce Committee. “The bill successfully strikes a balance in dealing with children who come before the juvenile justice system who are already dangerous criminals and other children who are harmless and scared and running away from abuse at home.”

The Greenwood juvenile justice legislation:

“Our children are our most important resource. In order to keep them safe from harm and prevent them from getting involved with drugs, alcohol and crime, we must provide them with real alternatives to this dangerous behavior,” Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE), chairman of the Education Reform Subcommittee, said. “This law goes a long way toward providing states and local communities with the flexibility they need to reduce juvenile crime through prevention activities including job training, mentoring, and employment services that help keep our children off the streets and on the right track.”

“This important legislation will help prevent and control juvenile delinquency, making communities across the United States more safe. A goal of this committee, this Congress, and the Bush Administration is ensuring the safety and prosperity of all children,” said House Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH). “I commend Reps. Greenwood and Scott for their steady, bipartisan work on this legislation, which will make a difference in thousands of children’s lives across America. I'm also grateful to Chairmen Pete Hoesktra (R-MI) and Mike Castle for the key roles they played in helping get this legislation to President Bush for his signature.”