Juvenile Justice Bulletin -- April 2001 -- Youth for Justice

This Bulletin was prepared under grant number 95–JS–FX–0017 from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice.

Points of view or opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of OJJDP or the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office for Victims of Crime.

A Message From OJJDP

Respect for the law is a mark of our respect for the rights of others and an essential ingredient of civil society. Where laws are disregarded, rights are imperiled.

At times, it may be difficult to understand this concept, particularly when we are young. Often, youth see laws as unreasonable restrictions imposed by adult authorities on their personal freedom rather than as necessary safeguards to protect their rights—and the rights of their neighbors.

Law-related education engages youth of all ages in the process of learning about the foundations of justice, freedom, and responsibility. It teaches them ways that they can practice good citizenship and contribute to their communities. Thus, it has a critical role to play in preventing juvenile crime.

Through the Youth for Justice program, described in this Bulletin, OJJDP works with nonprofit organizations to support law-related education projects that share these important purposes.

Law-related education inculcates protective factors in the youth it educates, thus buffering them from the problems and circumstances that might lead to their involvement in delinquency and other negative behaviors. In so doing, it protects the rights and liberties of Americans to ensure a better future for all.

Acknowledgments

This Bulletin was written by Paula A. Nessel, former Program Manager for the American Bar Association’s Division for Public Education, with generous assistance from the staff of the national Youth for Justice projects. Ms. Nessel is currently Communications Manager of the American Bar Association’s Office of Justice Initiatives.

NCJ 186161

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