Montana's 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 State of Montana bears the primary financial burden for the administration of juvenile justice within the State. One-hundred percent of all expenses associated with the JABG program purpose areas are directly incurred by the State. Montana's Board of Crime Control administers the state's JABG funds. Montana will focus on the following purpose areas: Purpose Area 10- Establishing and maintaining interagency information sharing programs that enable the juvenile and criminal justice systems, schools, and social services agencies to make more informed decisions regarding the early identification, control, supervision, and treatment of juveniles who repeatedly commit serious delinquent or criminal acts; Purpose Area 12-Establishing and maintaining programs to conduct risk and needs assessments of juvenile offenders; Purpose Area 14 - establishing and maintaining restorative justice programs; and Purpose Area 15 - Establishing and maintaining programs to enable juvenile courts and juvenile probation officers to be more effective and efficient in holding juvenile offenders accountable and reducing recidivism.

NCA/NCF