Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG)

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 purpose areas chosen by the State of New Mexico, Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to implement are as follows:
1. Purpose area - Developing, implementing, and administering graduated sanctions for juvenile offenders.
6. Purpose area - Establishing and maintaining training programs for law enforcement and other court personnel with respect to preventing and controlling juvenile crime.
11. Purpose area - Establishing and maintaining accountability-based programs designed to reduce recidivism among juveniles who are referred by law enforcement personnel or agencies.
12. Purpose area - Establishing and maintaining programs to conduct risk and need assessments of juvenile offenders that facilitate the effective early intervention and the provision of comprehensive services, including mental health screening and treatment and substance abuse testing and treatment of such offenders.
13. Purpose area - Establishing and maintaining accountability-based programs that are designed to enhance school safety.
14. Purpose area - Establishing and maintaining restorative justice programs.
15. Purpose area - Establishing and maintaining programs to enable juvenile courts and juvenile probation officers to be more effective and efficient to holding juvenile offenders accountable and reducing recidivism.
The State of New Mexico has worked on developing a reduction of juvenile offenders through providing accountability-based program system of graduated sanctions on a state wide basis in 21 counties out of a total 33 counties in a mostly rural state.

NCA/NCF