§5601. Congressional statement of findings

(a) The Congress hereby finds that-

(1) juveniles accounted for almost half the arrests for serious crimes in the United States in 1974 and for less than one-third of such arrests in 1983;

(2) recent trends show an upsurge in arrests of adolescents for murder, assault, and weapon use;

(3) the small number of youth who commit the most serious and violent offenses are becoming more violent;

(4) understaffed, overcrowded juvenile courts, prosecutorial and public defender offices, probation services, and correctional facilities and inadequately trained staff in such courts, services, and facilities are not able to provide individualized justice or effective help;

(5) present juvenile courts, foster and protective care programs, and shelter facilities are inadequate to meet the needs of children, who, because of this failure to provide effective services, may become delinquents;

(6) existing programs have not adequately responded to the particular problems of the increasing numbers of young people who are addicted to or who abuse alcohol and other drugs, particularly nonopiate or polydrug abusers;

(7) juvenile delinquency can be reduced through programs designed to keep students in elementary and secondary schools through the prevention of unwarranted and arbitrary suspensions and expulsions;

(8) States and local communities which experience directly the devastating failures of the juvenile justice system do not presently have sufficient technical expertise or adequate resources to deal comprehensively with the problems of juvenile delinquency;

(9) existing Federal programs have not provided the direction, coordination, resources, and leadership required to meet the crisis of delinquency;

(10) the juvenile justice system should give additional attention to the problem of juveniles who commit serious crimes, with particular attention given to the areas of sentencing, providing resources necessary for informed dispositions, and rehabilitation;

(11) emphasis should be placed on preventing youth from entering the juvenile justice system to begin with; and

(12) the incidence of juvenile delinquency can be reduced through public recreation programs and activities designed to provide youth with social skills, enhance self esteem, and encourage the constructive use of discretionary time.

(b) Congress finds further that the high incidence of delinquency in the United States today results in enormous annual cost and immeasurable loss of human life, personal security, and wasted human resources and that juvenile delinquency constitutes a growing threat to the national welfare requiring immediate and comprehensive action by the Federal Government to reduce and prevent delinquency.

( Pub. L. 93–415, title I, §101, Sept. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1109 ; Pub. L. 96–509, §3, Dec. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 2750 ; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §611, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2107 ; Pub. L. 102–586, §1(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 4982 .)

Amendments

1992-Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 102–586, §1(a)(2), added pars. (2) and (3). Former pars. (2) and (3) redesignated (4) and (5), respectively.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 102–586, §1(a)(1), (3), redesignated par. (2) as (4) and inserted "prosecutorial and public defender offices,". Former par. (4) redesignated (6).

Subsec. (a)(5) to (10). Pub. L. 102–586, §1(a)(1), redesignated pars. (3) to (8) as (5) to (10), respectively.

Subsec. (a)(11), (12). Pub. L. 102–586, §1(a)(4)–(6), added pars. (11) and (12).

1984-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–473, §611(1), substituted "accounted" for "account" and "in 1974 and for less than one-third of such arrests in 1983" for "today".

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 98–473, §611(2), inserted "and inadequately trained staff in such courts, services, and facilities".

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 98–473, §611(3), struck out "the countless, abandoned, and dependent" before "children, who".

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 98–473, §611(4), substituted "reduced" for "prevented".

1980-Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 96–509, §3(1), inserted reference to alcohol abuse.

Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 96–509, §3(2)–(4), added par. (8).

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7296, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4463 , as amended by Pub. L. 101–204, title X, §1001(d), Dec. 7, 1989, 103 Stat. 1827 , provided that:

"(a) Effective Date.-Except as provided in subsection (b), this subtitle [subtitle F (§§7250–7296) of title VII of Pub. L. 100–690, see Short Title of 1988 Amendment note below] and the amendments made by this Act [probably should be subtitle] shall take effect on October 1, 1988.

"(b) Application of Amendments.-(1) The amendments made by section 7258(a) [amending section 5633 of this title] shall not apply to a State with respect to a fiscal year beginning before the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 18, 1988] if the State plan is approved before such date by the Administrator for such fiscal year.

"(2) The amendments made by section 7253(b)(1) [amending section 5614 of this title] and section 7278 [enacting section 5732 of this title] shall not apply with respect to fiscal year 1989.

"(3) Notwithstanding the 180-day period provided in-

"(A) section 207 of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5611 et seq.) [42 U.S.C. 5617], as added by section 7255;

"(B) section 361 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (42 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) [42 U.S.C. 5715], as redesignated by section 7273(e)(2) and amended by section 7274; and

"(C) section 404(a)(5) of the Missing Children's Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5773(a)(5)), as amended by section 7285(a)(3);

the reports required by such sections to be submitted with respect to fiscal year 1988 shall be submitted not later than August 1, 1989."

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Section 670 of division II (§§610–670) of chapter VI of title II of Pub. L. 98–473 provided that:

"(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), this division and the amendments made by this division [see Short Title of 1984 Amendment note below] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this joint resolution [Oct. 12, 1984] or October 1, 1984, whichever occurs later.

"(b) Paragraph (2) of section 331(c) of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, as added by section 657(d) of this division [section 5751(c)(2) of this title], shall not apply with respect to any grant or payment made before the effective date of this joint resolution [Oct. 12, 1984]."

Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Section 263(c) of Pub. L. 93–415, as added by Pub. L. 95–115, §6(d)(2), Oct. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 1058 , which provided that except as otherwise provided by the Juvenile Justice Amendments of 1977 (see Short Title of 1977 Amendments note below), the amendments made by the Juvenile Justice Amendments of 1977 were to take effect on Oct. 1, 1977, was repealed by Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7266(2), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4449 .

Effective Date

Section 263(a), (b) of Pub. L. 93–415, as amended by Pub. L. 94–273, §32(a), Apr. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 380 ; Pub. L. 95–115, §6(d)(1), Oct. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 1058 , which provided that (a) except as provided by subsections (b) and (c) (set out as an Effective Date of 1977 Amendment note above), the foregoing provisions of such Act (enacting subchapters I and II of this chapter and amending section 5108 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees) were to take effect on Sept. 7, 1974, and that (b) section 5614(b)(5) and 5614(b)(6) of this title was to become effective at the close of the thirty-first day of the twelfth calendar month of 1974 and section 5614(l) of this title was to become effective at the close of the thirtieth day of the eleventh month of 1976, was repealed by Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7266(2), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4449 .

Short Title of 1999 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–71, §1, Oct. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1032 , provided that: "This Act [enacting sections 5714–25, 5714–41, 5731a, and 5732a of this title, amending sections 5701, 5711, 5712, 5713, 5714–1 to 5714–21, 5714–23, 5714–24, 5714a to 5731, 5732, 5751 to 5773, 5775, and 5777 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 7101 of Title 20, Education] may be cited as the 'Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children Protection Act'."

Short Title of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–322, title XVII, §170301, Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2043 , provided that subtitle C (§§170301–170303) of title XVII of Pub. L. 103–322, which enacted section 5776a of this title, amended sections 5777 and 5778 of this title, and enacted provisions set out as a note under section 5776a of this title, could be cited as the "Morgan P. Hardiman Task Force on Missing and Exploited Children Act", prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–314, title VII, §703(g), Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2989 .

Short Title of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7250(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4434 , provided that: "This subtitle [subtitle F (§§7250–7296) of title VII of Pub. L. 100–690, enacting sections 5617, 5662, 5665, 5665a, 5667, 5673 to 5676, 5712a to 5712c, 5714–1, 5714–2, 5732, 5733, and 5778 of this title, amending sections 5603, 5611, 5614, 5616, 5631 to 5633, 5651 to 5654, 5659 to 5661, 5671, 5672, 5711 to 5714, 5714a, 5714b, 5715, 5716, 5731, 5751, 5773, 5775, 5776, and 5777 of this title and sections 5315 and 5316 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, repealing sections 5634 to 5639, 5656, 5657, and 5774 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 5617 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the 'Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Amendments of 1988'."

Short Title of 1984 Amendment

Section 610 of Pub. L. 98–473 provided that: "This Division [division II (§§610–670) of chapter VI of title II of Pub. L. 98–473, enacting sections 5714a, 5714b, and 5771 to 5777 of this title, amending this section and sections 5602, 5603, 5611, 5612, 5614, 5616, 5632 to 5635, 5637, 5638, 5651, 5653, 5654, 5657, 5659, 5661, 5671, 5672, 5702, 5711 to 5714, and 5751 of this title, repealing sections 5617, 5655, and 5741 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] may be cited as the 'Juvenile Justice, Runaway Youth, and Missing Children's Act Amendments of 1984'."

Short Title of 1980 Amendment

Section 1 of Pub. L. 96–509 provided that: "This Act [enacting section 5617 of this title, amending this section and sections 5602, 5603, 5611, 5612, 5614 to 5616, 5632 to 5634, 5637, 5638, 5651, 5654 to 5656, 5659 to 5661, 5671, 5672, 5711 to 5713, 5715, and 5751 of this title, repealing former section 5617 and sections 5618 and 5619 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 5633 of this title] may be cited as the 'Juvenile Justice Amendments of 1980'."

Short Title of 1977 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–115, §1, Oct. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 1048 , provided that: "This Act [enacting section 5741 of this title, amending section 5316 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, sections 4351 and 5038 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and sections 3723, 3767, 3811 to 3814, 3821, 3882, 3883, 3888, 3889, 5603, 5611, 5612, 5614 to 5618, 5631 to 5635, 5637 to 5639, 5651, 5653 to 5657, 5659 to 5661, 5671, 5672, 5711 to 5713, 5731, and 5751 of this title, repealing sections 3821, 5658, and 5732 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 5632, 5633, and 5638 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the 'Juvenile Justice Amendments of 1977'."

Short Title

Section 1 of Pub. L. 93–415 provided: "That this Act [enacting this chapter, sections 3772 to 3774, and 3821 of this title, and sections 4351 to 4353, 5038 to 5042 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, amending sections 3701, 3723, 3733, 3768, 3811 to 3814, 3882, 3883 and 3888 of this title, section 5108 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and sections 5031 to 5037 of Title 18, and repealing section 3889 of this title] may be cited as the 'Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974'."

Section 301 of title III of Pub. L. 93–415, as amended by Pub. L. 96–509, §18(b), Dec. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 2762 , provided that: "This title [enacting subchapter III of this chapter] may be cited as the 'Runaway and Homeless Youth Act'."

Section 401 of title IV of Pub. L. 93–415, as added by Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §660, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2125 , as amended by Pub. L. 101–204, title X, §1004(1), Dec. 7, 1990, 103 Stat. 1828 , provided that: "This title [enacting subchapter IV of this chapter] may be cited as the 'Missing Children's Assistance Act'."

Section 501 of title V of Pub. L. 93–415, as added by Pub. L. 102–586, §5(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5027 , provided that: "This title [enacting subchapter V of this chapter] may be cited as the 'Incentive Grants for Local Delinquency Prevention Programs Act'."