FY2010 Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program

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 offenses, 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 District of Columbia performs state, county and local government functions; therefore, DC continues to receive a 100 percent waiver of the JABG pass-through requirement to units of local government. The District will focus JABG funding on effective juvenile justice system improvements to reduce juvenile offending through accountability-based programs. Funding will be used for the following purpose areas: (3) hiring juvenile court staff and pre-trial services; (4) hiring additional prosecutors; (6) training programs for law enforcement and other court personnel; (11) accountability-based programs designed to reduce recidivism; (13) accountability-based programs to enhance school safety; (15) programs to enable juvenile courts and juvenile probation officers to be more effective and efficient in holding juvenile offenders accountable and reducing recidivism; and, (17) programs to facilitate the successful re-entry of juvenile offender in the community.

(NCA/NCF)