Pueblo of Pojoaque Tribal Youth Accountability Project

Part of the Indian Country Law Enforcement Initiative, a joint initiative of DOJ and the U.S. Department of the Interior to improve law enforcement and the administration of criminal and juvenile justice in Indian country, OJJDP's Tribal Youth Program (TYP) supports and enhances tribal efforts to prevent and control delinquency and strengthen the juvenile justice system for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth. This program is authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended and the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2009, Pub. L. 111-8.

The Pueblo of Pojoaque seeks to engage tribal youth in a comprehensive program called the 'Pojoaque Youth Accountability Project' (PYAP). This project is aimed at reducing high rates of juvenile delinquency, truancy, substance abuse and juvenile crime in the Pueblo of Pojoaque community through the use of both prevention (after school), and mental health program services (Categories 1,5). The overall stated goal of this project is to work alongside Tribal youth to reduce instances of juvenile delinquency and help them to become more successful in academics, more emotionally and physically fit, and to lead healthy, well-balanced and productive lives. The PYAP will achieve its program goal through mental health and substance abuse counseling for youth and their families, in addition to using after school programs consisting of tutoring, fitness, recreation and mentoring by Tribal elders. The project will be supervised by a Case Manager, hired exclusively for this project. The Case Manager will report to the Education Department Director, who reports directly to Tribal Leadership. PYAP will report on required TYP performance measures to OJJDP.

CA/NCF