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.

Guam's Department of Youth Affairs (DYA) will continue to use its JABG program funds to support the following purpose areas: (8) drug court programs; (12) programs to conduct risk and needs assessment; and (16) hiring detention and corrections personnel. More specifically, the drug court program through the Judiciary of Guam will continue to support the Juvenile Drug Court Tracker Program and provide drug testing that includes strict monitoring to reduce substance abuse among youth on probation. The risk and needs assessment program will provide an effective system of assessment for youth in the Youth Correctional Facility (YCF) and the Cottage Homes (CH), as well as clients of the Jumpstart and Aftercare programs. Identifying targeted services and applying immediate sanctions that will be carefully matched to each youth's level of risk and service needs will reduce recidivism into the family court system. DYA also supports and maintains personnel in the YCF and CH and provides staff development and training. DYA will manage all of the activities and measure progress through YCF admission reports, monthly statistical reports.

NCA/NCF