CNMI 2013 JABG Application

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 2013 Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) program for the CNMI will help continue funding efforts towards supporting the most critical areas in the Juvenile Justice System. This JABG grant will be designated to programs CNMI wide. The target population shall be youth service providers and law enforcement agencies in the Juvenile Justice System that collect data for reporting and provide critical services to Juveniles. Under this grant program, the CNMI is currently waived from all matching and pass through level amounts. The CNMI will continue to fund the following Units of Local Government.

The program areas to be funded fall under the following JABG Purpose Areas: First is #2 for Juvenile Detention Improvement. This program will help to support the daily operations of the CNMI's lone Juvenile Detention and Correctional Facility. The next purpose area to be funded is #3 Juvenile Pre-Trial Services. This program assists all juvenile cases throughout their court adjudication process. Another purpose area that will be funded affects the most agencies in the CNMI Juvenile Justice System. Purpose area #10 Interagency Information Sharing, helps to support the functions and operations of the CNMI Juvenile Justice Task Force. The other purpose area to be supported is #15 Juvenile Probation; for the Division of Youth Services Juvenile Probation Unit. This program provides training and resources to Juvenile Probation Officers necessary for their daily operations. Lastly, purpose area #9 Juvenile records, provides needed support for Juvenile Police Officers in managing their case loads and in collecting proper and accurate data for reporting. Progress Reports will be collected by CJPA to measure the impact and outcomes of these programs. All pertinent data will be submitted to OJJDP via GMS and the DCTAT. NCA/NCF