“Since 1988, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has been mandated by Congress to try to shrink the racial gap by providing grants and training to local juvenile courts and law enforcement agencies. In return, states receiving federal dollars must gather data on inequality, explore why it’s happening and pursue solutions. But with an appointee of President Trump at the helm, the office has taken a quiet but decisive turn away from that mandate.”
““OJJDP is dismantling protections for kids of color. It’s that simple,” said Lisa Thurau, executive director of Strategies for Youth, an advocacy organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that focuses on police interactions with teens.”