Florida'sJuvenile Accountability Block Grant Application 2013

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 JABG Program is both offender-focused and system-focused activities that promote accountability. For the juvenile offender, accountability means an assurance of facing individualized consequences through which he or she is made aware of, and held responsible for the loss, or injury perpetrated on a victim. Strengthening the juvenile justice system requires an increased capacity to develop youth competence, to efficiently track juveniles through the system, and to provide enhanced options such as restitution, community service, victim-offender mediation, and other restorative justice sanctions that reinforce the mutual obligations of an accountability-based juvenile justice system.

The Florida JABG Program is both offender-focused and system-focused activities that promote accountability. Florida will focus on the following purpose areas: #02, remodeling detention centers to minimize protection action response (PAR); #06, training of court personnel with respect to preventing and controlling juvenile crime; #09, establishing and maintaining a system of juvenile records designed to promote public safety; #10, Information Sharing through collaboration with partner agencies and maximizing awareness; #12, Assessing the risks/needs to determine effective strategies for reducing recidivism; 13, Establishing school safety by listening to you and identifying the factors that contribute to delinquent behavior; #14, Fostering a therapeutic environment to promote restorative justice through arts, community service, and restorative circles; #15, Effective Probation Programming by integrating JPO's into their local community; #16, establishing and maintaining programs to conduct risk and needs assessments that facilitate effective early intervention and the provision of comprehensive services, including mental health screening and treatment and substance abuse testing and treatment, to juvenile offenders; hiring detention and corrections personnel, and establishing and maintaining training programs for such personnel, to improve facility practices and programming, and planning and administration; and #17, establishing, improving, and coordinating pre-release and post-release systems and programs to facilitate successful re-entry of juvenile offenders state custody to local communities. NCA/NCF