Nevada awarded $1.5 million in federal funds for juvenile justice services | News

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Division of Child and Family Services recently received more than $1.5 million to serve youth at risk of delinquency or those who commit low-level crimes.

The funding will be used to target unfunded or underfunded services in Nevada’s lowest-income counties. DCFS’s Juvenile Justice Programs Office applied for these funds to support programs and efforts in Carson, Storey, Clark, Churchill, Elko, Lyon and Washoe Counties. It was awarded from the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention FY 2021 Delinquency Prevention Grants Program.

Delinquency Prevention Grant funds can be used to support programs for kids ages 17 and younger. The goal is to divert youth from deeper involvement in the juvenile justice system by addressing needs upon referral or entry into the system.

Projects anticipated as part of this award include:

The DCFS says there’s no single cause that drives youth to commit acts of delinquency, but some factors are poverty, lack of supervision, substance abuse and mental health disorders. Services and/or funds to address these needs are effective in preventing deeper system involvement.

Delinquency is a term used specifically for juveniles aged 17 and below, who commit crimes. There are two kinds of crimes that a juvenile can commit:

• A status offense: This is an offense for an individual aged 17 or below, but not for someone 18 or older.  Examples of status offenses include runaway, truancy, and curfew.
• A delinquent offense:  This is an offense committed by a youth aged 17 and below that would also be a crime if committed by someone ages 18 and above.  

Funds are available through Sept. 30, 2026.