OJJDP FY15 Title II Formula Grant 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.

New Mexico is using Title II funds to ensure a full spectrum of delinquency prevention services are delivered through a “Continuum Site” model that includes sites established in twenty counties across the state. The Continuum Sites provide outreach, education, and services to youth at-risk of involvement with the juvenile justice system, as well as their families. Each site is guided by a local juvenile justice board, whose membership must include, per state statute, representatives of local or tribal government agencies, children's court, district attorney, public defender, local (municipal, county, tribal) law enforcement, and the public school district. Each board is tasked with executing the goals and objectives of the Statewide Advisory Group (SAG), as well as to provide the SAG with feedback regarding issues, outcomes, and obstacles encountered at a community level. The objective is to more effectively identify populations of youth most at-risk and to enhance or establish programming to meet the needs of those youth and families. Services will include substance abuse prevention and education, family and parenting education, assessments and case management, academic skills enhancement, day reporting programs, gender specific services, restorative justice programs and other alternatives to detention programming.

Data regarding population demographics, delinquency behaviors and reoffending trends, service utilization, outputs, and outcomes will be tracked in a centralized system and reports of statewide, regional and program-level data will be provided.

NCA/NCF