Improving the Juvenile Justice System for Girls Act of 2013

Summary: Improving the Juvenile Justice System for Girls Act of 2013 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to include gender-responsive services in the grant program for juvenile delinquency prevention. Defines &quot;gender-responsive services&quot; to mean promising practices and evidence-based services that comprehensively address the needs of girls in the juvenile justice system by providing services that reflect an understanding of: (1) the unique pathways of girls into the juvenile justice system; (2) the need for interventions that address common experiences of girls in the system, including histories of abuse, violence, broken family relationships, and substance abuse; and (3) the social and cultural factors of girls in the system. Includes in such definition trauma-specific services. Authorizes appropriations for the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Grant Program from FY2014-FY2019.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Improving the 
Juvenile Justice System for Girls Act of 2013''.
    (b) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) The proportion of girls entering the justice system has 
        increased steadily over the past several decades, rising from 
        20 percent in 1980 to 30 percent in 2009. Most of these girls, 
        up to 73 percent, have histories of physical and sexual 
        violence, and their entry into the criminal and juvenile 
        justice system is linked to their sexual and physical 
        victimization.
            (2) Girls' pathways into juvenile justice involvement are 
        distinct from boys' pathways. Girls account for a much larger 
        proportion of nonviolent status offenders than delinquency 
        offenders (40 percent compared to 14 percent, respectively).
            (3) A study by the Oregon Social Learning Center found the 
        average reported age of first sexual encounter for girls in 
        juvenile justice is 6.75.
            (4) The trauma of untreated physical and sexual abuse 
        results in lifetime consequences for girls. These consequences 
        include a higher risk for a number of negative social and 
        health outcomes such as higher mortality rates, a variety of 
        psychiatric problems, dysfunctional and violent relationships, 
        poor educational achievement, less stable work histories, 
        increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases and early 
        pregnancy, substance abuse or addiction, and increased reliance 
        on social services as compared to non-delinquent girls.
            (5) A growing body of evidence suggests that girls who 
        enter the juvenile justice system have equal if not higher 
        rates of mental health issues than boys who enter the system.
            (6) Current research and data have shown that gender-
        responsive, strength-based programming providing trauma-
        informed care and trauma-specific services is the most 
        effective means of preventing juvenile offenses and reducing 
        recidivism.

SEC. 2. INCENTIVE GRANTS FOR LOCAL DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS.

    The second title V of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention Act of 1974 (relating to Incentive Grants for Local 
Delinquency Prevention Programs, as added by Public Law 102-586 and 
amended by Public Law 107-273) is amended--
            (1) by amending section 502 (42 U.S.C. 5781) to read as 
        follows:

``SEC. 502. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this title:
            ``(1) State advisory group.--The term `State advisory 
        group' means the advisory group appointed by the chief 
        executive officer of a State under a plan described in section 
        223(a).
            ``(2) Gender-responsive services.--The term `gender-
        responsive services' means promising practices or evidence-
        based services that--
                    ``(A) comprehensively address the needs of girls in 
                the juvenile justice system through the development or 
                improvement of programs, treatment, counseling, and 
                resources, and the selection and training of staff, in 
                a manner that reflects an understanding of--
                            ``(i) the unique pathways of girls into the 
                        juvenile justice system;
                            ``(ii) the need for interventions that 
                        address common experiences of girls in the 
                        juvenile justice system, including histories of 
                        abuse, violence, broken family relationships, 
                        and substance abuse; and
                            ``(iii) the social and cultural factors 
                        affecting girls in the juvenile justice system 
                        and girls who are at risk of entering the 
                        juvenile justice system; and
                    ``(B) includes trauma-specific services.
            ``(3) Trauma-specific services.--The term `trauma-specific 
        services' means services that--
                    ``(A) address the neurological, biological, 
                psychological, and social effects of trauma on the 
                victims of trauma;
                    ``(B) provide resources on trauma exposure, the 
                impact or trauma, and trauma treatment to such victims;
                    ``(C) engage in efforts to strengthen the 
                resilience and protective factors of such victims;
                    ``(D) include trauma-informed therapeutic 
                interventions that are based on an understanding of the 
                vulnerabilities or triggers of victims of trauma, and 
                are designed to provide support to, and avoid re-
                traumatization of, such victims; and
                    ``(E) emphasize continuity of care and 
                collaboration among the providers of services to such 
                victims.'';
            (2) in section 504 (42 U.S.C. 5783)--
                    (A) in subsection (a)--
                            (i) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon 
                        in paragraph (7);
                            (ii) by redesignating paragraph (8) as 
                        paragraph (9); and
                            (iii) by inserting after paragraph (7) the 
                        following:
            ``(8) gender-responsive services; and''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b)--
                            (i) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, 
                        including a description of how the funds made 
                        available under this section will increase the 
                        effectiveness of such plan and the activities 
                        to be carried out under such plan'' before the 
                        semicolon; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, 
                        including a description of how the funds made 
                        available under this section will increase the 
                        effectiveness of such plan and the activities 
                        to be carried out under such plan'' before the 
                        semicolon; and
            (3) in section 505 (42 U.S.C. 5784), by striking ``for 
        fiscal years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008'' and inserting 
        ``for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 2019''.