FY 13 Formula Grant update

The Formula Grants Program is authorized under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act of 1974, as amended. The purpose of this program is to support state and local delinquency prevention and intervention efforts and juvenile justice system improvements. Program areas may include: planning and administration; state advisory group allocation; compliance monitoring; disproportionate minority contact; juvenile justice issues for Native American Indian tribes; prevention of substance abuse by juveniles; prevention of serious and violent crimes by juveniles; prevention of juvenile gang involvement and illegal youth gang activities; prevention of delinquent acts and identification of youth at risk of delinquency; and improvement of juvenile justice system operations, policies, and procedures including establishing a system of graduated sanctions, treatment programs, and aftercare.

The State Advisory Group has determined that funding will be allocated or granted to projects that will improve the juvenile justice system, which will include funding an annual report on the Status of Juvenile Justice in NH. This report will provide a comprehensive overview of the landscape of the youth in NH, which will guide the SAG as they endeavor to assist the state in making substantial changes in the system.

The SAG will also allocate or grant funding to an initiative that will provide system improvement to current services that aid in reducing the number of youth who enter the juvenile justice system. One such initiative would impact and reduce the number of youth identified with mental health issues from entering the system. This project will employ a first responder to a situation when a youth and/or family is struggling with a mental health issue, rather than law enforcement being called, which is the typically the case when this type of situation arises.

NCA/NCF