Robert Listenbee Jr. Assumes Leadership of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Press Release

Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Mary Lou Leary announced that Robert L. Listenbee Jr. has assumed the role as administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). A highly respected public defender and juvenile justice system reformer, Listenbee began as OJJDP administrator Monday. Melodee Hanes, who has served as acting administrator since January 2012, will become OJJDP's principal deputy administrator.

"It is a pleasure to welcome Bob Listenbee as OJJDP's new Administrator. Bob has been a champion for juvenile justice issues for many years, and did a tremendous job as co-chair of my task force on Children Exposed to Violence," said Attorney General Eric Holder. "I'm also deeply grateful to Melodee for her leadership and renewed focus on ensuring that children are treated fairly by the juvenile justice system. I look forward to continuing to work with both of these dedicated public servants as we carry on these critical efforts."

"Bob Listenbee will bring tremendous leadership and experience to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in efforts to support positive youth development and keep our children safe from violence," said Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Mary Lou Leary. "In her time as acting administrator, Melodee Hanes successfully championed initiatives to reduce both children's exposure to violence and the high volume of students entering the juvenile justice system following school suspensions. I thank them both and look forward to our work on these important issues together."

Before joining OJJDP as administrator, Listenbee co-chaired Attorney General Eric Holder's National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence and served as a member of OJJDP's Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice, which advises the President, Congress, and the OJJDP Administrator on juvenile justice policy. Previously, Listenbee served as a trial lawyer at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, and served as chief of its Juvenile Unit. He received his B.A. from Harvard University and his J.D. from the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.

OJJDP provides national leadership and resources to communities across the country to address juvenile delinquency and victimization. For more information on OJJDP's efforts, please visit: www.ojjdp.gov.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) which provides federal leadership in developing the nation's ability to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). For more information, please visit: www.ojp.gov.

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