Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Program (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. 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.

New Mexico will use Juvenile Accountability Based Grant funds to reduce juvenile offending by providing accountability-based programs within the State and local juvenile justice systems. Accountability-based programs will include a system of graduated sanctions that begin with limited interventions and build to more restrictive actions if the offender escalates to more delinquent activities. The accountability-based system of graduated sanctions will strengthen the State of New Mexico juvenile justice system by developing youth competency, tracking juveniles through the system and providing options from restitution to restorative justice sanctions. To meet its goals New Mexico will fund programs in the following purpose areas: 1, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
NCA/NCF