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 Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) is applying for a 100% waiver from the pass-thru requirement. Funds will be utilized to address purpose areas 2, 6, 11 and 14. Purpose Area 2 will be the first priority. Funding of purpose areas 6, 11 and 14 will depend on the availability of funds after addressing Purpose Area 2 EOPSS would like to maintain the flexibility to utilize JABG money under any of the four categories but specific allocations cannot be determined with certainty at the time of this application.

Purpose Area 2 has been chosen because a priority for the State Advisory Board (SAB) and EOPSS is to regain compliance with the sight and sound separation core requirement of the JJDPA, in part, by renovating non-compliant court holding facilities. EOPSS is working collaboratively with the SAB, the Administrative Office of the Trial Court (AOTC), the Youth Advocacy Department (YAD) (juvenile defenders), the Department of Youth Services (DYS) and the Division of Capital Assets Management (DCAM), which oversees construction and renovation of state-owned buildings, to comprehensively assess the problem and identify and implement strategies for its resolution. JABG funds will be matched with state funds in order to undertake renovations of problematic facilities where feasible and depending on prioritization.

NCA/NCF