Improving the Juvenile Justice System in Maine; Rare, Fair & Beneficial

The Formula Grants Program is authorized under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act and funds are made available as a result of the FY 2016 Department of Justice appropriations. 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; prevention; and activities to address the core requirements and improvement of juvenile justice system operations and policies, as found in section 223(a)(9) of the JJDP Act.

The Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG) developed Maine’s Three Year Comprehensive Plan for addressing juvenile justice and delinquency prevention issues. The FY 2016 plan update was developed with core values of the JJAG in mind to ensure that Main’s juvenile justice system is rare, fair, and beneficial and that evidence-based prevention programs are available. The JJAG draws heavily on its relationship with the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine for data collection and analysis to help inform planning priorities.

The overarching aim of the JJAG over the next three years is to continue practices which have led to a reduction in system-involved youth, investigate and address the root causes of rising disproportionate minority contact in certain Maine communities, and broaden the systemic presence of restorative justice practices as a program of first resort for arrested youth. The JJAG will continue to work with current sub-grantees and partners in pursuit of these goals, as well as seek out new opportunities to further the cause of fair juvenile justice throughout Maine. Public outreach will be improved to win broader support for JJAG initiatives and to inform the wider community about JJAG activities, particularly through the social media.

NCA/NCF