FY 2010 Juvenile Accountability Block Grants 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.

North Dakota is requesting a waiver of the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) Program pass-through requirement, with the intent of retaining 75% of the Fiscal Year 2010 allocation and passing through 25% to local government, consistent with previous funding allocations. State-share JABG funding will be used in Purpose Areas 2, 11, 14 and 16. It is anticipated that local government will use their funding in Purpose Areas 11 and 14. The performance measures outlined for the specific purpose area will be used to measure progress towards achieving the goals and objectives. State-share JABG funding will be used in conjunction with other State and federal resources to address issues identified in the North Dakota's Three-Year Plan. The crime analysis clearly illustrates that North Dakota has a high rate of property crime. Therefore, a majority of the funding will be used to maintain a statewide Restorative Justice program, which has shown to be an effective intervention for property offenders. In addition, funds will be used to augment services at the State's single juvenile correctional facility and for community-based accountability programs.

(NCA/NCF)