2011 Juvenile Accoutabilty Block Grant

The Juvenile Accountability Program (JABG) 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 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 JABG Program for the State of Washington is administered by the Washington Department of Social and Health Services, Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA). The State of Washington retains 25% of JABG funds and passes through 75% to units of local government, and one Native American Tribe. In the community, JABG funds are used for a wide variety of programs, including: evidenced-based programs; drug courts; restorative justice; accountability based programs; prosecutors; probation officers; technology; detention reform; and risk assessment. A majority of the State retained portion of the JABG funds will support a client activity tracking system by establishing electronic data sharing relationships with both providers and receivers of juvenile offender data.(NCA/NCF)