The mission of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) focuses on preventing juvenile delinquency and improving the juvenile justice system. OJJDP accomplishes this by supporting states, local communities, and tribal jurisdictions in their efforts to develop and implement effective programs for juveniles. The agency emphasizes the importance of community-based programs and initiatives that aim to prevent delinquency, reduce the involvement of youth in the juvenile justice system, and enhance the well-being of children and families.
This grant program aims to foster partnerships between arts-based organizations and juvenile justice systems to offer high-quality arts programming for current or former justice-involved youth. The goal is to utilize the arts as a tool for reducing juvenile delinquency, recidivism, and other problematic behaviors by engaging youth in court-ordered diversion programs, detention, correctional or residential facilities, or those on probation. The program emphasizes the development, expansion, or enhancement of intervention strategies that incorporate the arts, recognizing their potential as a transformative influence on youth involved in the justice system.