FY 2015 Title II Formula Grants Program

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 as found in section 223(a)(9) of the JJDP Act.

Connecticut’s Comprehensive 3-Year Juvenile Justice Plan Components for Fiscal Years 2015-2018 presents a description of Connecticut’s juvenile justice system including a narrative of the structure and function of the system; the presentation and analysis of three years (2012-2014) of system data; state needs/problems statements; coordination of state efforts; membership of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC), the final funding authority for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act funds to Connecticut; the Office of Policy and Management’s formula grants staff; and descriptions of programs to be funded with 2015 Formula Grants funds. The top priority of Connecticut’s JJAC is to reduce disproportionate minority contact (DMC) and racial/ethnic disparities. A review of the Connecticut juvenile crime data shows that referrals to juvenile court, admissions to pre-trial detention, and admissions to the secure juvenile correctional facility for boys are decreasing or remaining steady as Connecticut’s juvenile population increases by the addition of 16 and 17 year olds to the juvenile court jurisdiction. However, the percentages of Black and Hispanic youth in these data are not reducing. Because of the JJAC’s history of working closely with schools, and the fact that students not in school are more involved with the juvenile justice system, focusing on school attendance has been a priority. Since 2001, the JJAC has supported the Connecticut Consortium on School Attendance and worked to fund projects in schools with high needs. Many years of JJAC funding addressed school attendance at the greatest need grade (9th grade) with little documentable success. This past year the JJAC has moved to address school attendance at a second high need grade with more promise (kindergarten). With many juvenile justice system improvement strategies underway in Connecticut, the JJAC focuses its efforts on disproportionate minority contact and improving school attendance, where there was a leadership void until a few years ago and where support at the local level is crucial. Funds will support sharing the results of its fourth assessment study of DMC, training for police and school staff on effective interactions with youth, increasing opportunities for positive police/youth interactions, and implementing best practice approaches to improve school attendance. NCA/NCF