Michigan Juvenile Accountability Block Grant 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 Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) has been designated by the governor to administer the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) under the guidance of the State Advisory Group Subcommittee of the Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice (SAG),the state's JABG Advisory Board. Michigan's FY 2013 JABG funds will be distributed as follows: 1). Five percent of the funds will cover state administrative costs; 2). Twenty percent of the funds will fund programs targeting substance abuse, abuse assessment, technology improvement, and testing and treatment in northern Michigan communities that did not qualify for the 75% pass-through dollars; 3). Seventy five percent of the funds will be distributed to counties and cities in the lower part of the state to address local needs, which may include reducing truancy, improving graduation rates, increasing accountability, increasing community service.DHS utilizes the data provided by sub-recipients to compile the yearly JABG Program Performance Data Report for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency. In addition, the DHS JABG Coordinator monitors sub-recipient program performance through annual site visits or desk audits. NCA/NCF