FY2011 Juvenile Accountability Block Grant

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. 3796ee). 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 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 Idaho Juvenile Justice Commission, the State Advisory Group of the Department of Juvenile Corrections, continues to support a strategy that passes 95% of the JABG funds to units of local government. Purpose areas supported through JABG funding include: Purpose area 14 - establishing and maintaining restorative Justice Programs; Purpose area 16 - training for juvenile detention and probation officers; and Purpose area 17 - reintegration services for juveniles returning to the community after state commitment.

The Idaho Juvenile Corrections Act of 1995 is based on the principles of the Balanced and Restorative Justice Model. This requires government and communities to work together to build relationships making communities safe, repairing harm, and actively involving all segments of the community. The Idaho Juvenile Justice Commission believes this can be addressed by providing a base amount and incentive opportunities, for each county and tribe to assist juveniles and their families in accessing treatment resources, receiving adequate supervision, and ensuring restoration of victims. Idaho pursues its goal to maintain professional training through support of juvenile detention and probation officer training academies. Training priorities are coordinated through the Juvenile Training Council and the Peace Officer Standards Training Academy.

All sub-grantees of the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections collect, analyze, and report data on grant funded activities quarterly. Sub-grantees track output and outcome measures, to monitor the quality and impact of programming. The Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections works closely with counties and the Juvenile Justice Commission to monitor trends and measure progress towards program goals.

NCA/NCF