2010 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 Hawaii Department of Defense, the State agency designated by the Governor to administer OJJDP grants and related activities, will pass through 75 percent of the total JABG award to eligible units of local government.

The purpose areas that will be utilized at the state and local units of government are as follows.

Purpose Area 1. Graduated Sanctions will be the focal point for Hawaii's four counties (Hawaii, Kauai, Oahu, and Maui). The portion of the funding allocated to the counties will be used to provide programs and services with limited interventions rather than restrictive actions as with the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility and the Judiciary's Detention Home Facility. These facilities are located on the island of Oahu and are the only juvenile facilities in the State bearing much burden to neighbor island youth, families, and respective communities.
Purpose Area 2. Accountability-Based Programs will be the focal point for the state's portion of the funding allocation. A recent move by the Honolulu Police Department to cease all police diversion programs prompted key juvenile justice agencies and the community to collaborate and develop solutions that will prevent an overwhelming number of status offenders and minor law violators from flowing into the court system and prosecutors office. Police and other recognized individuals or organizations will be able to refer to programs/services that provide limited interventions or those with least restrictive actions.

Graduated sanction activities will be coordinated and implemented by each of the four counties in conformance to their respective Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition (JCEC) Plan. State activities will primarily focus on accountability-based programs with support of the county's activities as appropriate. The goals are to prevent or reduce juvenile delinquency and recidivism as well as the improvement of the juvenile justice system.

(NCA/NCF)