FY 10 Title II Formula Grants Program

The Formula Grants Program is authorized under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act of 2002. The purpose of this program is to support State and local delinquency prevention and intervention efforts and juvenile justice system improvements. Program areas may include: Planning and administration; State Advisory Group allocation; compliance monitoring; juvenile justice issues for American Indian tribes; prevention of substance abuse by juveniles; prevention of serious and violent crimes by juveniles; prevention of juvenile gang involvement and illegal youth gang activities; prevention of delinquent acts and identification of youth at risk of delinquency; and improvement of juvenile justice system operations, policies, and procedures including establishing a system of graduated sanctions, treatment programs, and aftercare.

In 2010 and 2011, the Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG) is committed to continually assessing its Disproportionate Minority Contact data as the State works toward intervention to find the most appropriate strategies to address DMC. The JJAG also intends to address the following activities: expand the understanding of positive youth development and strength-based principles among the community at large and in the programs it funds and supports; continue to explore and provide support to effective programs and strategies that provide structured alternatives to detention, specifically for girls; continue to support effective delinquency prevention programs that address family and youth needs prior to the development of criminal behavior; advocate for adoption of alternatives to school suspension and expulsion practices and reconsideration of zero-tolerance policies; continue to support only evidenced-based and evidence informed practices and program assessments that have solid research backing their efficacy; continue to support efforts to develop state-wide protocols for addressing juvenile adjudicative competence; work to assure the creation of standards of practice for attorneys who represent juveniles; and, continue to provide judges, legislators, juvenile justice professionals and the public with training and reliable information regarding 'what works' so that scarce resources are only spent on effective services.

NCA/NCF