Title II Formula Grant/Three Year Plan (update)

The Formula Grants Program is authorized under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act. The purpose of this program is to support state and local delinquency prevention and intervention efforts and juvenile justice system improvements. Supported activities and efforts 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) of the JJDP Act.

The primary purpose of the Formula Grant program is to ensure the Commonwealth’s compliance with the core requirements of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDP Act) of 2002. In addition, the Formula Grant program strives to effectively serve the needs of at-risk and juvenile offenders in accordance with the priorities of the JJDP Act reflected in the delineated “program areas." Funds from the Formula Grant program are dedicated to compliance activities and distributed to sub-grantees whom address aspects of the program areas prioritized by the State Advisory Group (SAG). The Commonwealth will sub-grant a total of approximately $200,000 to programs focused on alternatives to detention, diversion, system improvement, and/or Disproportionate Minority Contact. Massachusetts’ SAG, the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC) has identified the following priorities: (1) reducing disproportionate minority contact; (2) improving the collection and reporting of juvenile justice data; (3) ensuring stakeholders incorporate trauma-informed practices into their initiatives and services; (4) advocating for a juvenile competency statute; and (5) promoting best practices for juvenile diversion programs. NCA/NCF