Changes to OJJDP's Juvenile Accountability Program

• NCJ Number: 200220
• Author(s): Chyrl Andrews; Lynn Marble
• Date Published: June 2003
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Series: OJJDP Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Series
• Agencies: OJJDP
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

This document discusses the Juvenile Accountability Block Grants (JABG) program, which has been restructured effective October 1, 2003.

Abstract

The premise of juvenile accountability programming is that young people that violate the law should be held accountable for their offenses through the swift, consistent application of sanctions that are proportionate to the offenses. The program’s goal is to reduce juvenile offending through accountability-based initiatives focused on both the offender and the juvenile justice system. The transition of the program is a matter of expanding purpose areas, adjusting funding levels, and refining processes for determining eligibility, allocating funds, and monitoring activities. The number of authorized purpose areas for expenditure of funds increases from 12 to 16. New areas include developing and implementing systems of graduated sanctions; establishing and maintaining juvenile records systems, programs for assessment of risks and needs, and restorative justice programs; and hiring and training detention and corrections personnel. The annual funding level authorized by Congress changes from a maximum of $500 million to a maximum of $350 million. The set-aside for research, evaluation, and demonstration decreases from 3 percent to 2 percent, but the set asides for training and technical assistance and administration stay the same. To be eligible for funds, States are required to describe plans for using funds, outline criteria for measuring the effectiveness of funded activities, and document efforts to implement a system of graduated sanctions. States and subgrantees are required to submit annual reports that summarize grant activities and assess the effectiveness of these activities. Regulations are being developed for JABG and other recently authorized programs.