FFY 2010 Juvenile Accountability Block Grant

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 goal of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Group's (JJAG) plan for delinquency prevention is to reduce serious, violent and chronic juvenile crime through: Supporting the development of timely and accurate information about juvenile crime, system processing and the risks and needs of juvenile offenders; Facilitating wise decision-making throughout the juvenile justice system; Supporting prevention and reentry strategies for high-risk youth; and Reducing disproportionate minority contact in the juvenile justice system. Consistent with this goal, the JJAG has designated the following JABG priorities: Purpose areas 2 ' corrections/detention facilities; 9 ' juvenile records; 10 - interagency information-sharing; 11- accountability based programs to reduce recidivism; and 12 -risk and needs assessments. Local accountability activities for the juvenile offender will include individualized consequences through which a youth is held responsible for the loss, damage, or injury perpetrated on a victim. State level activities will include support of placement reforms; developing a juvenile justice research database; providing targeted information to better meet the needs of youth locally; and supporting institutionalization of risk and needs assessments. Mandatory federal performance measures will be collected to measure attainment of project goals. Local pass-through will be at least 75%.
(NCA/NCF)