Many proponents of the JJDPA fear the Administration intends to fund the new justice assistance program using funds which would have been allocated for the JJDPA. Fortunately, historically bipartisan Congressional support for the Juvenile Justice program has always been strong so I feel confident that this would not happen. However, it is important that I communicate to you the impact such a decision would have on Illinois. To assume, as Mr. Regnery would have us, that the funding of a justice assistance bill instead of the JJDPA can just as effectively address the State's juvenile justice needs is naíve. Such a move would completely undermine Illinois' initiative to remove juveniles from adult jails--an initiative which includes important State legislation as well as a major programming effort that is being undertaken by my Department.

The Thompson Administration supports both laws. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act has been extremely effective in Illinois, enabling state government to work with local governments and private providers to resolve the problems of our young people and assure that only youths who require formal intervention are returned to the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. However, the $2 million dollars Illinois has annually received since 1982 can only provide for a barebones, single program effort.

Between 1978 and 1981 Illinois received $3 million annually in JJDPA funding as well as an additional $3 million from LEAA (19.15% of State LEAA funds) to address the needs of our troubled youth. With this annual amount the State was able to address many of the juvenile justice needs which have been so well delineated in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. Reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act with an annual appropriation of $75 million plus passage of a justice assistance bill which includes a provision that 20% of these dollars be directed to programs for juveniles would again allow Illinois to address the needs of our young people and assure the continued upgrading of our juvenile justice systems.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may provide you with additional information on the juvenile justice program in Illinois or if I may be of further assistance to you.

At the Salt Lake County Commission on Youth meeting held on May 22, 1984,
a motion was passed unanimously to support H. R. 4971 and its companion
bill in the Senate S. 2014. We consider this Missing Children Act to be
a most important piece of legislation and encourage your active support
of it.

We understand that H.R. 4971 has been voted out favorably of the Education
and Labor Committee and we respectfully request your support of it without
any further amendments. Additionally, we would request your support in
seeing that this important bill is not attached to the proposed Justice
Assistance Act since that would delay its passage.

We appreciate your concern for and support of the children and youth of
our state.

The Act will expire on September 30, 1984. H.R. 4971,
Andrews, would re-authorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention Act with important improvements.

Reauthorization of the JJDP Act is of great importance to
California. Since FY 1982, California's allocation has been approx-
imately $4 million annually. Although the amount is small com-
pared to the total expended in the state for criminal justice, it is
critical in terms of the message it conveys and in supplementing
local funding for services and treatment to juveniles. The funding
has allowed private agencies to demonstrate their value in the
juvenile justice system complementing public agencies to provide
a full range of servide and treatment needs for juveniles. The
impact of these projects results in a greater balance of appropriate
services assisting in alleviating already crowded public juvenile
facilities and huge caseloads carried by probation personnel.

Section 315 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 5715, requires the Department of Health and Human Services to report annually to the Congress regarding the status and accomplishments of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program. The enclosed Annual Report documents Departmental activities during Fiscal Year 1982.

This report provides a comprehensive account of the history and progress of the programs funded under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. It also describes Federal collaborative activities undertaken in the spirit of the Act.

I am pleased to submit to the Congress the Fiscal Year 1982 Annual Report on the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act.

Sincerely,

Margarito Werken

Margaret M. Heckler
Secretary

Enclosure

FY 1982 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE CONGRESS

ON THE STATUS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE CENTERS FUNDED UNDER THE RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ACT

Title III of the Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974
(P.L. 93-415), as amended by
the Juvenile Justice Amendments
of 1977 (P.L. 95-115) and the
Juvenile Justice Amendments
of 1980 (P.L. 96-509)

Submitted By:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Human Development Services

Administration for Children, Youth and Families Youth Development Bureau