FFY 2015 Formula Grant Award

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.

The highest priority of the Commonwealth’s State Advisory Group –the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC) – and the Executive Office of Public Safety Programs Division juvenile justice staff will be to ensure speedy completion of remedies to the non-compliant facilities by continuing work begun four years ago with relevant stakeholders, particularly the Executive Office of the Trial Court and the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance. The population served by remedying the non-compliant court holding facilities is detained court-involved youth. Progress is being made at a steady pace with financial and other state-level resources dedicated to the effort. Also, the JJAC has identified additional priorities: reducing disproportionate minority contact; improving the collection and reporting of juvenile justice data; ensuring stakeholders incorporate trauma-informed practices into their initiatives and services; advocating for a juvenile competency statute; and promoting best practices for juvenile diversion programs. At-risk youth and juvenile justice system-involved youth across the Commonwealth will benefit from activities relating to the above priorities to include: convening stakeholders to collaborate on potential system improvements and effective practices, advocating and raising awareness on specific issues such as a juvenile competency statute, and other “no cost” activities.

NCA/NCF