FY 2013 Juvenile Accountability Block Grants 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 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 goal of Connecticut's 2013 Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Program is to increase juvenile justice information sharing and training opportunities for system practitioners and the public, particularly in the area of Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC). Therefore JJAC has chosen purpose area 10-Interagency Information Sharing for 2013 federal JABG funds for projects to be developed and operationalized in 2015/2016. Connecticut's state advisory group, the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC), serves as the state advisory board for the JABG Program, which allows for enhanced coordination of JABG projects with the other OJJDP programs. In Connecticut all responsibility, as well as financial burden, for the administration of juvenile justice rests with state government rather than with local governments. Therefore Connecticut has received a 100% waiver of the local government pass through requirement since the JABG Program began and seeks to continue this 100% waiver.
Activities will include training and technical assistance to address the JJAC's DMC recommendations and all required performance measures will be collected.
NCA/NCF