FY 2013 District of Columbia Juvenile Accountability Block Grant

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 Office of Justice Grants Administration (JGA) is the District of Columbia's State Administering Agency (SAA) for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Grant Programs (OJJDP). JGA in collaboration with the Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG), the State Advisory Group (SAG) as required by the OJJDP Act, will focus on the following JABG Purpose Areas in the District: (6) Training for Law Enforcement & Courts; (11) Accountability-based programs; and (17) Reentry. The District of Columbia is considered a waiver-eligible jurisdiction in the absence of local units of governments. In April 2013, JGA will release a consolidated notice of funding availability and solicit responses from local entities to address JABG purpose areas identified above. Sub-grantees will be required to report on project implementation and outcomes based on OJJDP's Performance Measure matrix. JGA will report on outcomes on a quarterly basis in the Grants Management System (GMS).
The District's JABG program focuses on efforts targeted at increasing accountability of youth behavior and protecting public safety which is at the core of decision making processes instituted by Court Social Services (CSS), District of Columbia Superior Court/Family Court, and the Department of Youth Rehabilitation. Services (DYRS), an independent DC agency responsible for juveniles who are committed. In the District of Columbia, the two most common dispositional options are placement on probation with CSS or commitment to DYRS. The emphasis on 2013 JABG funding will be to target youth offenders with programs and services designed to provide the best outcomes through evidence-based practices.
NCA/NCF