FY 2011 Juvenile Accountability Block Grant 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. 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 State of Tennessee passes through the required 75% of the federal award to Units of Local Government. Pass-Through funds are used to provide direct and indirect services to youth who have been before the juvenile court. Pass-Through funds will provide a Juvenile Court Referee to help reduce the waiting time to review cases. Other activities include; drug testing, counseling, prosecution of violent offenders, moral resonation, conflict resolution, education and psychological testing for juveniles who have been before the Juvenile Court. The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth (TCCY) administers the state's JABG funds. TCCY will use its portion of the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant funds to address: Purpose Area 9-Establishing and maintaining a system of juvenile records designed to promote public safety; Purpose Area 11-Establishing and maintaining accountability based programs; Purpose Area 12-Establishing and maintaining programs to conduct risk and needs assessments of juvenile offenders. Specifically, funds will be used to support a female observation and assessment center in Northeast TN. In the Southwest a program for boys 12 to 16 years of age will be implemented to provide leaders in their communities upon released. In Upper Cumberland, funds will be used for a Drug Court program. In Middle Tennessee area, a program providing case management for juveniles in rural counties to prevent custody will be funded. TCCY will measure the progress of the JABG Sub-grant programs through the use of the Data Collection and Technical Assistance Tool (DCTAT), quarterly progress reports, and annual monitoring.
NCA/NCF