Fiscal Year 2013 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.

Puerto Rico's Office of the Commissioner of Municipal Affairs (OCMA) administers the JABG program in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico continues to receive a 100% waiver of the pass-through requirement to units of local government. The goal of the Puerto Rico JABG program is to reduce juvenile offending through accountability-based programs. To meet that goal, Puerto Rico will undertake the following activities: (1) Establishing drug court programs that provide continuing judicial supervision over juvenile offenders with substance abuse problems and integrate administration of other sanctions and services for such offenders (Purpose Area 8); and (2) Establishing interagency information sharing programs that enable the juvenile and criminal justice systems, schools, and social services agencies to make more informed decisions (Purpose Area 10). NCA/NCF