FY 2011 Juvenile Accountability Block Grants 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.
West Virginia's Division of Justice and Community Services (DJCS) continues to assume responsibility for the administration of the majority of the juvenile justice functions in the State. Therefore, the State requested a continuation of the waiver of the 75 percent of the JABG grant funds to local units of government. DJCS has requested to retain 85% of their JABG funds at the State level. The State Advisory Group approved the following purpose areas for funding: (5) providing funds to enable prosecutors to address drug, gang, and youth violence problems more effectively and for technology, equipment, and training to assist prosecutors in identifying and expediting the prosecution of violent juvenile offenders; (10) establishing and maintaining interagency information-sharing programs; (11) establishing and maintaining accountability-based programs designed to reduce recidivism; (13) establishing and maintaining accountability-based programs that are designed to enhance school safety; and (14) establishing and maintaining restorative justice programs. The effectiveness of the programs will be measured by the collection of identified OJJDP annual performance measurement data and onsite visits. NCA/NCF