Accountability based activities focused on state system and offenders

The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program (JABG) Program is authorized under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 376ee). The goal of the JABG program is to reduce juvenile offending through accountability-based programs focused on both the juvenile offender and the juvenile justice system. The objective is to ensure that States and Territories are addressing the specified program purpose areas and receiving information on best practices from OJJDP. JABG funds are allocated to States and Territories based on each State's relative population of youth under the age of 18. The underlying premise of juvenile accountability programming is that young people who violate the law should be held accountable for their actions through the swift, consistent application of graduated sanctions that are proportionate to the offense, both as a matter of basic justice and as a way to combat juvenile delinquency, and improve the quality of life in the nation's communities.

The State of Rhode Island is a 100% waiver state and retains 100% of JABG funds. The State will fund the following program areas: #3-Hiring court-appointed defenders to promote the effective and expeditious administration of the juvenile justice system, #5-providing funding to enable prosecutors to address gang problems more effectively, and #17-establishing, improving and coordinating pre-release and post-release systems and programs to facilitate the successful re-entry of juvenile offenders in the community.
(NCA/NCF)