FY13 Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (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 et. seq.). 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 Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) continues to focus on the goal of preventing and controlling juvenile delinquency, and on implementing ongoing improvements to the juvenile justice system. To meet these goals, the JJC plans to use the state-level portion (25%) of the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2013 Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) funds to address Purpose Area #9 (Juvenile Records System), Purpose Area #12 (Risk and Needs Assessments), and Purpose Area #17 (Reentry). Purpose Area #9 was selected to sustain the implementation of the Juvenile Automated Management System (JAMS) through technical support and maintenance, and modifications to enhance system efficiency. JAMS is an on-line automated management system created by the JJC. With these funds, Units of Local Governments (ULG) and providers will have the ability to have a centralized location to submit and generate reports regarding services provided and youth served. This projects goal is to assist in the creation of a monitoring and evaluation module, and to enhance existing modules. Purpose Area #12 was selected to sustain a comprehensive screening process for juveniles entering the JJC in the areas of substance abuse, mental health, and treatment.

All juveniles entering the JJC will be screened for substance use. The goal is to ensure that youth in need of substance abuse treatment are placed appropriately and are assessed to provide clinical insight into family and social risk factors, level of defensive responding, and substance misuse. Purpose Area #17 was selected to assist youth returning to the community from JJC placement by providing support services. The goal is to provide youth with work/job experience, preparing them for employment, careers, and economic independence. This project will improve JJCs ability to meaningfully impact the lives of youth returning to their communities. The JJC will distribute 75% of the States total award to ULG (21 County Youth Services Commissions and identified Municipalities). Each ULG will submit an application to the JJC identifying at least one of the 18 JABG Purpose Area(s) in their application. The JJC will measure the progress of the services and programs through the use of the Data Collection and Technical Assistance Tool (DCTAT), reports submitted using JJC's JAMS, and annual program monitoring. NCA/NCF