WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ending six years of congressional gridlock on efforts to reauthorize federal juvenile justice programs, the House today passed 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 measure passed by a vote of 400-4.

“This legislation gives states and local communities more freedom and flexibility to reduce juvenile crime. Federal juvenile justice resources will come with fewer strings attached, giving state and local officials new tools to protect communities and combat youth violence,” said House Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH).

The House-Senate Conference Committee on H.R. 2215, the Department of Justice authorization bill, has agreed to incorporate 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.

“The nature and extent of juvenile delinquency has changed considerably since the office was created, and this reauthorization has taken that into account,” said Greenwood, a member of the Education & the Workforce Committee. “It is an extraordinarily difficult task to create a juvenile justice system in each of the states and in each of the counties that can respond to the very, very different young people in our society who get caught up in the law. But I believe that this bipartisan bill represents good policy.”

“After so many failed attempts, I am pleased the House and Senate have finally agreed on a comprehensive juvenile justice reform bill,” said Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), chair of the Select Education Subcommittee that considered the bill. “I am particularly supportive of the increased emphasis this bill places on juvenile delinquency prevention and providing help for at-risk youth in need of professional mental health services.”

The Greenwood juvenile justice legislation:

Gives states greater flexibility in administering juvenile justice and delinquency prevention programs.

Consolidates five existing federal juvenile justice programs into one flexible Prevention Block Grant, replacing the many overly-prescriptive federal programs in current law.

Makes technical changes to reflect the needs and priorities of local community law enforcement.

Includes a provision to allow funds to be used for the mentoring of children of prisoners.

“A very important component of reducing juvenile crime and delinquency is through early intervention in the lives of troubled or at-risk youth-before a misstep leads to a life of crime,” Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE), chairman of the Education Reform Subcommittee and a conferee on the bill, stated. “Strong mentoring programs and constructive after school programs are so important to keep our children safe and to encourage them to make positive choices throughout their lives.”

“I commend Reps. Greenwood and Scott for their steady, bipartisan work on this legislation, which will make a difference in communities across America,” Boehner said. “I'm also grateful to Reps. Hoesktra and Castle for the key roles they played in helping pass this legislation through the House.”