§11103. Definitions

For purposes of this chapter-

(1) the term "community based" facility, program, or service means a small, open group home or other suitable place located near the juvenile's home or family and programs of community supervision and service which maintain community and consumer participation in the planning operation, and evaluation of their programs which may include, but are not limited to, medical, educational, vocational, social, and psychological guidance, training, special education, counseling, alcoholism treatment, drug treatment, and other rehabilitative services;

(2) the term "Federal juvenile delinquency program" means any juvenile delinquency program which is conducted, directly, or indirectly, or is assisted by any Federal department or agency, including any program funded under this chapter;

(3) the term "juvenile delinquency program" means any program or activity related to juvenile delinquency prevention, control, diversion, treatment, rehabilitation, planning, education, training, and research, including drug and alcohol abuse programs; the improvement of the juvenile justice system; and any program or activity designed to reduce known risk factors for juvenile delinquent behavior, provides ¹ activities that build on protective factors for, and develop competencies in, juveniles to prevent, and reduce the rate of, delinquent juvenile behavior;

(4)(A) the term "Bureau of Justice Assistance" means the bureau established by section 10141 of this title;

(B) the term "Office of Justice Programs" means the office established by section 10101 of this title;

(C) the term "National Institute of Justice" means the institute established by section 10122(a) of this title; and

(D) the term "Bureau of Justice Statistics" means the bureau established by section 10132(a) of this title;

(5) the term "Administrator" means the agency head designated by section 11111(b) of this title;

(6) the term "law enforcement and criminal justice" means any activity pertaining to crime prevention, control, or reduction or the enforcement of the criminal law, including, but not limited to police efforts to prevent, control, or reduce crime or to apprehend criminals, activities of courts having criminal jurisdiction and related agencies (including prosecutorial and defender services), activities of corrections, probation, or parole authorities, and programs relating to the prevention, control, or reduction of juvenile delinquency or narcotic addiction;

(7) the term "State" means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;

(8) the term "unit of local government" means-

(A) any city, county, township, town, borough, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a State;

(B) any law enforcement district or judicial enforcement district that-

(i) is established under applicable State law; and

(ii) has the authority to, in a manner independent of other State entities, establish a budget and raise revenues; or

(C) for the purposes of assistance eligibility, any agency of the government of the District of Columbia or the Federal Government that performs law enforcement functions in and for-

(i) the District of Columbia; or

(ii) any Trust Territory of the United States;

(9) the term "combination" as applied to States or units of local government means any grouping or joining together of such States or units for the purpose of preparing, developing, or implementing a juvenile justice and delinquency prevention plan;

(10) the term "construction" means acquisition, expansion, remodeling, and alteration of existing buildings, and initial equipment of any such buildings, or any combination of such activities (including architects' fees but not the cost of acquisition of land for buildings);

(11) the term "public agency" means any State, unit of local government, combination of such States or units, or any department, agency, or instrumentality of any of the foregoing;

(12) the term "secure detention facility" means any public or private residential facility which-

(A) includes construction fixtures designed to physically restrict the movements and activities of juveniles or other individuals held in lawful custody in such facility; and

(B) is used for the temporary placement of any juvenile who is accused of having committed an offense or of any other individual accused of having committed a criminal offense;

(13) the term "secure correctional facility" means any public or private residential facility which-

(A) includes construction fixtures designed to physically restrict the movements and activities of juveniles or other individuals held in lawful custody in such facility; and

(B) is used for the placement, after adjudication and disposition, of any juvenile who has been adjudicated as having committed an offense or any other individual convicted of a criminal offense;

(14) the term "serious crime" means criminal homicide, forcible rape or other sex offenses punishable as a felony, mayhem, kidnapping, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, robbery, larceny or theft punishable as a felony, motor vehicle theft, burglary or breaking and entering, extortion accompanied by threats of violence, and arson punishable as a felony;

(15) the term "treatment" includes but is not limited to medical, educational, special education, social, psychological, and vocational services, corrective and preventive guidance and training, and other rehabilitative services designed to protect the public, including services designed to benefit addicts and other users by eliminating their dependence on alcohol or other addictive or nonaddictive drugs or by controlling their dependence and susceptibility to addiction or use;

(16) the term "valid court order" means a court order given by a juvenile court judge to a juvenile-

(A) who was brought before the court and made subject to such order; and

(B) who received, before the issuance of such order, the full due process rights guaranteed to such juvenile by the Constitution of the United States;

(17) the term "Council" means the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention established in section 11116(a)(1) of this title;

(18) for purposes of subchapter II, the term "Indian tribe" means-

(A) a federally recognized Indian tribe; or

(B) an Alaskan Native organization;

that has a law enforcement function, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior in consultation with the Attorney General;

(19) the term "comprehensive and coordinated system of services" means a system that-

(A) ensures that services and funding for the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency are consistent with policy goals of preserving families and providing appropriate services in the least restrictive environment so as to simultaneously protect juveniles and maintain public safety;

(B) identifies, and intervenes early for the benefit of, young children who are at risk of developing emotional or behavioral problems because of physical or mental stress or abuse, and for the benefit of their families;

(C) increases interagency collaboration and family involvement in the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency; and

(D) encourages private and public partnerships in the delivery of services for the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency;

(20) the term "gender-specific services" means services designed to address needs unique to the gender of the individual to whom such services are provided;

(21) the term "home-based alternative services" means services provided to a juvenile in the home of the juvenile as an alternative to incarcerating the juvenile, and includes home detention;

(22) the term "jail or lockup for adults" means a secure facility that is used by a State, unit of local government, or law enforcement authority to detain or confine adult inmates;

(23) the term "nonprofit organization" means an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of title 26 that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of title 26;

(24) the term "graduated sanctions" means an accountability-based, graduated series of sanctions (including incentives, treatment, and services) applicable to juveniles within the juvenile justice system to hold such juveniles accountable for their actions and to protect communities from the effects of juvenile delinquency by providing appropriate sanctions for every act for which a juvenile is adjudicated delinquent, by inducing their law-abiding behavior, and by preventing their subsequent involvement with the juvenile justice system;

(25) the term "sight or sound contact" means any physical, clear visual, or verbal contact that is not brief and inadvertent;

(26) the term "adult inmate"-

(A) means an individual who-

(i) has reached the age of full criminal responsibility under applicable State law; and

(ii) has been arrested and is in custody for or awaiting trial on a criminal charge, or is convicted of a criminal offense; and

(B) does not include an individual who-

(i) at the time of the offense, was younger than the maximum age at which a youth can be held in a juvenile facility under applicable State law; and

(ii) was committed to the care and custody or supervision, including post-placement or parole supervision, of a juvenile correctional agency by a court of competent jurisdiction or by operation of applicable State law;

(27) the term "violent crime" means-

(A) murder or nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, or robbery, or

(B) aggravated assault committed with the use of a firearm;

(28) the term "collocated facilities" means facilities that are located in the same building, or are part of a related complex of buildings located on the same grounds;

(29) the term "related complex of buildings" means 2 or more buildings that share-

(A) physical features, such as walls and fences, or services beyond mechanical services (heating, air conditioning, water and sewer); or

(B) the specialized services that are allowable under section 31.303(e)(3)(i)(C)(3) of title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on December 10, 1996;

(30) the term "core requirements"-

(A) means the requirements described in paragraphs (11), (12), (13), and (15) of section 11133(a) of this title; and

(B) does not include the data collection requirements described in subparagraphs (A) through (K) of section 11117(1) of this title;

(31) the term "chemical agent" means a spray or injection used to temporarily incapacitate a person, including oleoresin capsicum spray, tear gas, and 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile gas;

(32) the term "isolation"-

(A) means any instance in which a youth is confined alone for more than 15 minutes in a room or cell; and

(B) does not include-

(i) confinement during regularly scheduled sleeping hours;

(ii) separation based on a treatment program approved by a licensed medical or mental health professional;

(iii) confinement or separation that is requested by the youth; or

(iv) the separation of the youth from a group in a nonlocked setting for the limited purpose of calming;

(33) the term "restraints" has the meaning given that term in section 290ii of title 42;

(34) the term "evidence-based" means a program or practice that-

(A) is demonstrated to be effective when implemented with fidelity;

(B) is based on a clearly articulated and empirically supported theory;

(C) has measurable outcomes relevant to juvenile justice, including a detailed description of the outcomes produced in a particular population, whether urban or rural; and

(D) has been scientifically tested and proven effective through randomized control studies or comparison group studies and with the ability to replicate and scale;

(35) the term "promising" means a program or practice that-

(A) is demonstrated to be effective based on positive outcomes relevant to juvenile justice from one or more objective, independent, and scientifically valid evaluations, as documented in writing to the Administrator; and

(B) will be evaluated through a well-designed and rigorous study, as described in paragraph (34)(D);

(36) the term "dangerous practice" means an act, procedure, or program that creates an unreasonable risk of physical injury, pain, or psychological harm to a juvenile subjected to the act, procedure, or program;

(37) the term "screening" means a brief process-

(A) designed to identify youth who may have mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, or other needs requiring immediate attention, intervention, and further evaluation; and

(B) the purpose of which is to quickly identify a youth with possible mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, or other needs in need of further assessment;

(38) the term "assessment" includes, at a minimum, an interview and review of available records and other pertinent information-

(A) by an appropriately trained professional who is licensed or certified by the applicable State in the mental health, behavioral health, or substance abuse fields; and

(B) which is designed to identify significant mental health, behavioral health, or substance abuse treatment needs to be addressed during a youth's confinement;

(39) for purposes of section 11133(a)(15) of this title, the term "contact" means the points at which a youth and the juvenile justice system or criminal justice system officially intersect, including interactions with a juvenile justice, juvenile court, or law enforcement official;

(40) the term "trauma-informed" means-

(A) understanding the impact that exposure to violence and trauma have on a youth's physical, psychological, and psychosocial development;

(B) recognizing when a youth has been exposed to violence and trauma and is in need of help to recover from the adverse impacts of trauma; and

(C) responding in ways that resist retraumatization;

(41) the term "racial and ethnic disparity" means minority youth populations are involved at a decision point in the juvenile justice system at disproportionately higher rates than non-minority youth at that decision point;

(42) the term "status offender" means a juvenile who is charged with or who has committed an offense that would not be criminal if committed by an adult;

(43) the term "rural" means an area that is not located in a metropolitan statistical area, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget;

(44) the term "internal controls" means a process implemented to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives in-

(A) effectiveness and efficiency of operations, such as grant management practices;

(B) reliability of reporting for internal and external use; and

(C) compliance with applicable laws and regulations, as well as recommendations of the Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office; and

(45) the term "tribal government" means the governing body of an Indian Tribe.

( Pub. L. 93–415, title I, §103, Sept. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1111 ; Pub. L. 95–115, §2, Oct. 3, 1977, 91 Stat. 1048 ; Pub. L. 96–509, §§5, 19(a), Dec. 8, 1980, 94 Stat. 2751 , 2762; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §613, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2108 ; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §§7251(a), 7252(b)(1), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4435 , 4436; Pub. L. 102–586, §1(c), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 4983 ; Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, §101(b) [title I, §129(a)(1)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–50 , 2681-75; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title II, §12204, Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1871 ; Pub. L. 115–385, title I, §102, Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5124 .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 93–415, Sept. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1109 , known as the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1974 Act note set out under section 10101 of this title and Tables.

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 5603 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section. Some section numbers or references in amendment notes below reflect the classification of such sections or references prior to editorial reclassification.

Amendments

2018-Par. (8)(C), (D). Pub. L. 115–385, §102(1), redesignated subpar. (D) as (C) and struck out former subpar. (C) which read as follows: "an Indian Tribe that performs law enforcement functions, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior; or".

Par. (18). Pub. L. 115–385, §102(2), inserted "for purposes of subchapter II," before "the term" in introductory provisions and inserted concluding provisions.

Par. (22). Pub. L. 115–385, §102(3), amended par. (22) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (22) read as follows: "the term 'jail or lockup for adults' means a locked facility that is used by a State, unit of local government, or any law enforcement authority to detain or confine adults-

"(A) pending the filing of a charge of violating a criminal law;

"(B) awaiting trial on a criminal charge; or

"(C) convicted of violating a criminal law;".

Par. (25). Pub. L. 115–385, §102(4), amended par. (25) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (25) read as follows: "the term 'contact' means the degree of interaction allowed between juvenile offenders in a secure custody status and incarcerated adults under section 31.303(d)(1)(i) of title 28, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on December 10, 1996;".

Par. (26). Pub. L. 115–385, §102(5), amended par. (26) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (26) read as follows: "the term 'adult inmate' means an individual who-

"(A) has reached the age of full criminal responsibility under applicable State law; and

"(B) has been arrested and is in custody for or awaiting trial on a criminal charge, or is convicted of a criminal offense;".

Pars. (30) to (45). Pub. L. 115–385, §102(6)–(8), added pars. (30) to (45).

2002-Par. (3). Pub. L. 107–273, §12204(1), substituted "designed to reduce known risk factors for juvenile delinquent behavior, provides activities that build on protective factors for, and develop competencies in, juveniles to prevent, and reduce the rate of, delinquent juvenile behavior" for "to help prevent juvenile delinquency".

Par. (4). Pub. L. 107–273, §12204(2), made technical amendment to references in original act which appear in text as references to sections 3741, 3711, 3722 and 3732 of this title.

Par. (7). Pub. L. 107–273, §12204(3), struck out "the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands," after "Puerto Rico,".

Par. (12)(B). Pub. L. 107–273, §12204(4), struck out ", of any nonoffender," after "committed an offense".

Par. (13)(B). Pub. L. 107–273, §12204(5), struck out ", any nonoffender," after "committed an offense".

Par. (14). Pub. L. 107–273, §12204(6), inserted "drug trafficking," after "aggravated assault,".

Par. (16)(C). Pub. L. 107–273, §12204(7), struck out subpar. (C) which read as follows: "with respect to whom an appropriate public agency (other than a court or law enforcement agency), before the issuance of such order-

"(i) reviewed the behavior of such juvenile and the circumstances under which such juvenile was brought before the court and made subject to such order;

"(ii) determined the reasons for the behavior that caused such juvenile to be brought before the court and made subject to such order;

"(iii) determined that all dispositions (including treatment), other than placement in a secure detention facility or a secure correctional facility, have been exhausted or are clearly inappropriate; and

"(iv) submitted to the court a written report stating the results of the review conducted under clause (i) and the determinations made under clauses (ii) and (iii);".

Par. (22). Pub. L. 107–273, §12204(8)(A), redesignated cls. (i) to (iii) as subpars. (A) to (C), respectively.

Pars. (24) to (29). Pub. L. 107–273, §12204(8)(B)–(10), added pars. (24) to (29).

1998-Par. (8). Pub. L. 105–277, §101(b) [title I, §129(a)(1)(A)], added par. (8) and struck out former par. (8) which read as follows: "the term 'unit of general local government' means any city, county, township, town, borough, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a State, an Indian tribe which performs law enforcement functions as determined by the Secretary of the Interior, or, for the purpose of assistance eligibility, any agency of the District of Columbia government performing law enforcement functions in and for the District of Columbia and funds appropriated by the Congress for the activities of such agency may be used to provide the non-Federal share of the cost of programs or projects funded under this subchapter;".

Par. (9). Pub. L. 105–277, §101(b) [title I, §129(a)(1)(B)], substituted "units of local government" for "units of general local government".

1992-Par. (16). Pub. L. 102–586, §1(c)(1), amended par. (16) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (16) read as follows: "the term 'valid court order' means a court order given by a juvenile court judge to a juvenile who has been brought before the court and made subject to a court order. The use of the word 'valid' permits the incarceration of juveniles for violation of a valid court order only if they received their full due process rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States;".

Pars. (19) to (23). Pub. L. 102–586, §1(c)(2)–(4), added pars. (19) to (23).

1988-Par. (5). Pub. L. 100–690, §7252(b)(1), substituted "section 5611(b)" for "section 5611(c)".

Pars. (17), (18). Pub. L. 100–690, §7251(a), added pars. (17) and (18).

1984-Par. (3). Pub. L. 98–473, §613(1), struck out "for neglected, abandoned, or dependent youth and other youth" before "to help" and inserted "juvenile" after "prevent".

Par. (4)(A). Pub. L. 98–473, §613(2), substituted " 'Bureau of Justice Assistance' means the bureau established by section 3741 of this title" for " 'Office of Justice Assistance, Research, and Statistics' means the office established by section 3781(a) of this title".

Par. (4)(B). Pub. L. 98–473, §613(2), substituted " 'Office of Justice Programs' means the office established by section 3711 of this title" for " 'Law Enforcement Assistance Administration' means the administration established by section 3711 of this title".

Par. (6). Pub. L. 98–473, §613(3), substituted "services)," for "services," before "activities of".

Par. (14). Pub. L. 98–473, §613(4)(A), inserted "or other sex offenses punishable as a felony".

Par. (16). Pub. L. 98–473, §613(4)(B)–(6), added par. (16).

1980-Par. (1). Pub. L. 96–509, §5(a), inserted reference to special education.

Par. (4). Pub. L. 96–509, §5(b), designated existing provisions as subpar. (B) and added subpars. (A), (C), and (D).

Par. (5). Pub. L. 96–509, §19(a), substituted "section 5611(c) of this title" for "section 3711(c) of this title".

Par. (7). Pub. L. 96–509, §5(c), substituted "the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands" for "and any territory or possession of the United States".

Par. (9). Pub. L. 96–509, §5(d), substituted "juvenile justice and delinquency prevention" for "law enforcement".

Par. (12). Pub. L. 96–509, §5(e), substituted definition of "secure detention facility" for definition of "correctional institution or facility".

Pars. (13), (14). Pub. L. 96–509, §5(f), added pars. (13) and (14). Former par. (13) redesignated (15).

Par. (15). Pub. L. 96–509, §5(f), (g), redesignated former par. (13) as (15), inserted reference to special education, and substituted "protect the public, including services designed to benefit addicts and other users by eliminating their dependence on alcohol or other addictive or nonaddictive drugs or by controlling their dependence and susceptibility to addiction or use" for "protect the public and benefit the addict or other user by eliminating his dependence on addicting or other drugs or by controlling his dependence, and his susceptibility to addiction or use".

1977-Par. (3). Pub. L. 95–115 substituted "to help prevent delinquency" for "who are in danger of becoming delinquent".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–385 not applicable with respect to funds appropriated for any fiscal year that begins before Dec. 21, 2018, see section 3 of Pub. L. 115–385, set out as a note under section 11102 of this title.

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–273 effective on the first day of the first fiscal year that begins after Nov. 2, 2002, and applicable only with respect to fiscal years beginning on or after the first day of the first fiscal year that begins after Nov. 2, 2002, see section 12223 of Pub. L. 107–273, set out as a note under section 11101 of this title.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–690 effective Oct. 1, 1988, see section 7296(a) of Pub. L. 100–690, set out as a note under section 11101 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–473 effective Oct. 12, 1984, see section 670(a) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as a note under section 11101 of this title.

Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–115 effective Oct. 1, 1977, see section 263(c) of Pub. L. 93–415, as added by Pub. L. 95–115 and repealed by Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7266(2), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4449 , formerly set out as a note under section 11101 of this title.

Executive Documents

Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.

¹ So in original. Probably should be "provide".