FY2010 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 States 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 State Department of Human Services, Office of Youth Services (OYS), will pass-through 75% of the total JABG award to the four counties of the State of Hawaii. The purpose areas that will be utilize at the state level and the counties are as follows: Purpose Area 1. Graduated Sanctions: counties of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, and the City & County of Honolulu; and Purpose Area 2. Accountability-Based Programs: state level programming. Purpose Area 1 will be coordinated and implemented by each of the four counties in conformance to their respective JABG State Advisory Board (SAB) Plan. State activities will focus on accountability-based programs designed to reduce recidivism among juveniles. The goals are to provide sanctions that are least restrictive that correspond to the offense committed as well as imposing immediate consequences with regards to accountability-based programs. Progress will be measured using the JABG Performance Measurement System. Quarterly reports from each sub-grantee will be required as a means to measure progress throughout the duration of the projects. Corrective measures will be applied wherever appropriate. The OYS will be reporting JABG performance measures as required by OJJDP's DCTAT and the GMS.

(NCA/NCF)