Minnesota JABG

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. 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 offense, 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 Juvenile Justice Advisory Council (JJAC) of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety has determined that the State will focus its JABG efforts on three purpose areas: Graduated Sanctions, Training Programs for Law Enforcement, and Accountability. In the area of Graduated Sanctions, there will be an ongoing coordinated effort to reduce the number of status offenders in the court system. JABG funding will focus on community programs that intervene or prevent at-risk youth from entering the system. In the area of training for law enforcement, Minnesota will fund training programs and focus groups for law enforcement around the State. Information obtained during these training sessions will be used to create a set of strategies for law enforcement officers to address disproportionate minority contact (DMC) issues. In the area of Accountability, the JJAC Youth Caucus and other identified youth groups will continue to work to address DMC within their communities. JJAC will also assist law enforcement to educate at-risk youth on the collateral consequences of their delinquent behavior.

NCA/NCF