FY 11 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 Delaware is responsible for 100% of juvenile services and has been approved by OJJDP for a waiver of the 75% pass-through requirement to units of local government. JABG programming in Delaware will continue to hold serious, violent, chronic juvenile offenders increasingly accountable for the crimes they have committed.Delaware's JABG plan maintains enhancements to the State's juvenile justice system so that juvenile offenders are held accountable to the public, to the criminal justice system and to themselves. With the cooperative leadership among member agencies, plus the ingenuity of the Criminal Justice Council, Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition (JCEC), Delaware's JABG plan is designed to make a significant change in the juvenile justice system. Specifically, JABG funds will be continue to support the State's Gun Court where all juveniles charged with any offense involving a firearm are scheduled on the Gun Court calendar. The goal of the Gun Court is to resolve these cases in the Family Court while providing sentencing that includes appropriate treatment, rehabilitative efforts, and close supervision. In these cases, the Court schedules sentence reviews at regular intervals following disposition. If a juvenile is sentenced to an out-of-home placement at Level IV or Level V, the Court also imposes electronic monitoring (EM Bracelets) upon release, and other aftercare and treatment services in an effort to have the juvenile successfully transition back into the community.

NCA/NCF