[Federal Register: February 4, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 23)] [Notices] [Page 5279-5283] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [[Page 5279]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part III Department of Justice _______________________________________________________________________ Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention _______________________________________________________________________ National Innovations to Reduce Disproportionate Minority Confinement (Deborah Ann Wysinger Memorial Program); Notice [[Page 5280]] DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention [OJP (OJJDP) No. 1108] RIN 1121-ZA55 Training and Technical Assistance for National Innovations to Reduce Disproportionate Minority Confinement (The Deborah Ann Wysinger Memorial Program) AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), U. S. Department of Justice. ACTION: Resolicitation for award of cooperative agreement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to announce the public resolicitation of the above-cited program. Peer review of applications responding to the initial solicitation resulted in the finding that none was sufficiently responsive to warrant funding. DATES: Applications must be postmarked or delivered on or before April 7, 1997. Mailed applications must be received by April 14, 1997. ADDRESSES: The application and five copies should be mailed to: the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention c/o Juvenile Justice Resource Center, 1600 Research Boulevard, Mail Stop 2K, Rockville, MD 20850; 301/235-5535. Note: In the lower left-hand corner of the envelope, you must clearly write, ``Training and Technical Assistance for National Innovations to Reduce Disproportionate Minority Confinement.'' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin V. Delany-Shabazz, Program Manager, Training and Technical Assistance Division, (202) 307-9963, or by e-mail to: delany@ojp.usdoj.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose: To reduce the disproportionate confinement of minority juveniles in secure detention and confinement facilities nationwide. Background This program implements Section 261(a)(8) of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act of 1974, as amended. National data and studies have shown that children of color are over-represented in secure juvenile and criminal justice facilities across the country in comparison to their percentage in the local population. A major contributing factors is that the structure of justice decision making often disadvantages minority youth. This is true even when controlling for socio-economic characteristics and legal variables such as types of offense and prior delinquent history. Accordingly, in the 1988 reauthorization of the JJDP Act, Congress amended the Part B Formula Grants Program State plan requirements to include a new State plan requirement addressing the disproportionate confinement of minority juveniles where it exists. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) issued regulations requiring States participating in the Formula Grants Program to gather and analyze data on disproportionate minority confinement (DMC) and, depending on the findings, to design strategies to address the issue. A Special Emphasis discretionary grant program was developed to demonstrate model approaches in five competitively selected pilot States (Arizona, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, and Oregon). Funds also were awarded to a national contractor to provide technical assistance to both the pilot States and other States, to evaluate their efforts, and to share relevant information nationwide. By 1995, Special Emphasis awards had been made to support 12 demonstration projects to test innovative DMC interventions designed by States and local communities. Despite these activities, many factors contributing to over representation of minorities in secure facilities remain unchanged, or are even more prevalent, as reflected in the widespread disparity in juvenile case processing,<SUP>1 the paucity and poor quality of support services and resources, increased numbers of children living in poverty, continuing disintegration of family structure, teen pregnancy, drug use, truancy and dropouts, gang activity, and increased availability of guns and drugs. The impact of these factors is greatest in minority communities. The consequence of not addressing contributing factors was highlighted in the October 1995 report from the Sentencing Project, Young Black Americans and the Criminal Justice System: Five Years Later. This report revealed that nationwide one in three black men in the 20-29 age group is under the supervision of the justice system (in prison or jail; on probation or parole)--up from one in four in 1990.<SUP>2 Many of these are graduates of dependency courts, social services and juvenile justice systems that failed to address their needs and prevent recurring crime. Current and previous efforts to address over representation yield two fundamental lessons. One is that systemic, community wide interventions are necessary to reduce DMC. The other is that each jurisdiction must assess the magnitude, extent, and nature of the disparity. The experience of the pilot States makes it clear that people are able to reach consensus on corrective actions only by gaining a full understanding of what leads to disproportion, including social conditions, social and justice policies and the juvenile justice system. Specifically this entails assessing at what points within and prior to juvenile justice system processing disproportionality begins to appear or increase. How does police discretionary action prior to arrest (decision to divert) or the processes and decisions relative to detention, adjudication, probation, sentencing or aftercare affect disproportionality? What impact do environmental and social factors have on disproportionality? Field assessments and State site evaluations have also generated useful information. OJJDP recognizes the need to foster development and documentation of innovative and effective strategies nationwide using training, technical assistance, information dissemination, provision of practical and targeted resource tools, and public education. To help meet that need, OJJDP is issuing this competitive solicitation for innovative proposals to implement a three-year national training, technical assistance, and information dissemination initiative. It will be focused on improving the ability of States, selected local jurisdictions and OJJDP key grantees to address from systemic and community wide perspectives the issue of disproportionate confinement of minority juveniles. An award of $300,000 will support this program in its first year. Goal: To help State and local jurisdictions reduce the over representation of minority children and youth in secure detention and correctional facilities, jails, and lockups by providing jurisdictions with knowledge that will enable them to successfully address those factors that contribute to the problem, including information about inventive practices and programs and technical assistance in implementing successful community wide approaches. Objectives: In year one, the selected grantee will: 1. Review and synthesize the existing knowledge base and research on DMC including State and local practices and policies designed to address DMC. 2. Develop an intensive, interactive core training curriculum for juvenile justice system policy and decision [[Page 5281]] makers and practitioners on effective interventions and impediments to successful action (refer to item #2 under Program Strategy), and initially deliver to juvenile justice specialists, State Advisory Group (SAG) chairs, and selected grantees. 3. Develop and begin to deliver a system of technical assistance to key OJJDP grantees to incorporate DMC issues, practices and policies into their training and education programs, especially a knowledge of and appreciation for the impact that police practices and community development have on DMC. (Key grantees are those training and technical assistance providers working with police, the courts, and juvenile detention staff; SafeFutures sites; Title V recipients, and States using State Challenge Program funds to address DMC.) The technical assistance system should be innovative and varied in concept and execution. 4. Develop and begin the process of assisting DMC grantees implementing local program interventions to better manage, institutionalize, and sustain their programs over the long-term. This process is to include a needs assessment. 5. Collaborate with OJJDP's Formula Grants Program technical assistance contractor and OJJDP staff on developing effective approaches and strategies for assisting States to improve DMC compliance plans and their strategic planning, program design, program implementation, and policy formulation as it addresses DMC in the long and short term. 6. Plan, develop and implement a national dissemination and education effort that builds on the training and technical assistance system proposed to facilitate development of effective DMC efforts at the State and local levels. 7. Identify five to seven people to serve on an advisory group to support project implementation. The specific tasks of the advisory group are to provide consultation and advice to the grantee on current DMC policy and practice issues and to advise on the impact and progress of DMC program planning and implementation. Members are to be selected to ensure diversity of perspectives, experience, gender and cultural orientation. Grantee is expected to convene two annual meetings of the advisory group. Objectives for years two and three are to: (1) build on year one efforts and continue to deliver training and technical assistance to the key constituents (as noted in objectives #2, 3 and 5, above) of the core curriculum; (2) continue to support and assist DMC intervention grantees (as noted in objective #4, above); (3) implement the national dissemination and education campaign (as noted in objective #6); and (4) develop other appropriate products and resource tools to help OJJDP's key constituencies to improve their abilities to assess and effectively address disproportionate confinement of minorities. Program Strategy: OJJDP will make a single award for $300,000 under a cooperative agreement. The award will be for a one-year budget period under a three-year project period. The purpose of this award is to equip States and local units of government to address disproportionate confinement of minority youth, where it is determined to exist, through systemic, community wide, interdisciplinary and strategic approaches. This will be accomplished through (1) development of resource materials, guidelines, and programs suitable for targeted dissemination; (2) development of a core curriculum on DMC issues, barriers, supports, and successful interventions suitable for use with elected officials, judges, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, public defenders, court personnel, State Advisory Groups, and juvenile justice specialists; (3) delivery of technical assistance to State and local agencies to support strategic planning, program design, program implementation, and policy formulation that addresses DMC both in the long and short term; and (4) support for OJJDP grantees, including the use of DMC materials and the core curriculum, to make their programs responsive to this issue. Because DMC is an issue that affects and is affected by all juvenile justice policies and practices, the grantee will coordinate the work of this cooperative agreement with other OJJDP grantees addressing delinquency prevention, juvenile justice system improvement, and research and data collection. This coordination entails ensuring that information is shared and that collaboration occurs where appropriate. Note that materials developed under other grants and contracts that either relate to this issue or have potential for supporting the work of this initiative will be made available to this grantee. These materials will allow the grantee to avoid duplication and expand the impact of work being done to enhance and strengthen efforts to reduce DMC. The materials, protocols, curriculums, and resource and dissemination networks of the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse, the OJJDP National Training and Technical Assistance Center, Community Research Associates (the national technical assistance contractor for the Formula Grants Program), and other key OJJDP grantees and contractors will support development of products identified in this solicitation. Products The grantee will be required to produce a number of products over the 3-year project period. During the first project year, the grantee will: <bullet> Create a protocol for delivery of training and technical assistance which informs and supports the constituencies noted previously, including selected communities. <bullet> Produce a summary document synthesizing what is known about DMC policy and practice throughout the Nation. <bullet> Develop a training curriculum on DMC requirements, issues, and effective interventions, including components on ethnic and cultural competence, systems change, community development and police practices. <bullet> Compile a report on the results of the needs assessments conducted with the DMC implementation grantees and plans to support and assist each grantee. Products for years two and three will be agreed to by the grantee and program office after award. Eligibility Requirements OJJDP invites applications from public and private agencies, organizations, and institutions. Private for-profit organizations must waive any fee or profit to be eligible for this program. This is a competitive training and technical assistance program. Funds will be awarded under a cooperative agreement to an organization or collaboration of organizations demonstrating a thorough understanding of DMC issues and the implications for policy and practice. The applicant must also have significant experience in the assessment and development of programs designed for disadvantaged and culturally diverse youth living in communities lacking culturally sensitive services; expertise in delivery of training and technical assistance to tribal, rural, and urban communities; demonstrated competence in management of intercommunity group relations and cultural issues; and experience in creating and implementing broad-based public education efforts. Given the combination of skills required, organizations are encouraged to collaborate in applying for this program. The award would be made to a lead agency, which would be responsible for distributing funds as described in the application. [[Page 5282]] Selection Criteria Applications will be rated by a peer review panel on the extent to which they meet the following criteria. Applicants are to organize applications in accord with these criteria. Problem(s) To Be Addressed (25 points) Applicants must concisely describe the problems to be addressed by the proposed program and convey a clear understanding of the purposes, work requirements, and expected results of the project. In particular, the applicant must demonstrate a thorough understanding of DMC issues, the barriers and supports to DMC reduction, the implications for policy and practice, especially in the areas of law enforcement (community policing) and community development, and the importance of ethnic and cultural competence to program success. Applicants must also address issues associated with providing DMC training and technical assistance to States and localities. Goals and Objectives (10 points) Applicants must demonstrate an understanding of the overall goals, objectives and tasks of this solicitation through a clear description of how the applicant's proposed program meets the solicitation's goals and objectives. Project Design (25 points) Applicants must detail a project design that is innovative, viable and within their ability to carry out. Applicants must delineate quantitative and qualitative measures by which progress in meeting project objectives will be assessed. Applications must indicate how project objectives and work requirements will be achieved and must describe a cohesive and well-thought-out plan for transferring knowledge to the field about DMC and best practices for reducing DMC. Management and Organizational Capability (25 points) Management structure, staffing, and experience working with State agencies and local entities must be shown to be adequate and appropriate to implement and complete the project successfully, efficiently, and cost effectively. Commitments of collaboration with other organizations must clearly and specifically show their respective project responsibilities, dollar amounts, number of hours, and the manner in which ongoing communication and collaboration will be managed. Key project staff and consultants should have significant experience in the areas addressed in this initiative, including juvenile justice system processing and multicultural programming for youth. Descriptive resumes must be provided for all key staff. The applicant organization must document its ability to implement the project, being certain to address all of the eligibility requirements. This section should include a succinct description of organizational experience with respect to the program objectives and proposed activities. Budget (15 points) Applicants must provide a budget for the activities to be undertaken that is complete, detailed, reasonable, allowable, and cost effective and a budget narrative that describes and justifies proposed costs. Note that the applicant is to provide program budget support for two annual meetings of the advisory group as noted in objective #7. Award Period This project will be funded for 36 months in three 12-month budget periods. After the first budget period, funding depends on grantee performance, availability of funds, and other criteria established at the time of award. Award Amount Up to $300,000 is available for the initial 12-month budget period. Format Requirements Applicants are to limit the Program Narrative (this includes Problem to be Addressed, Goals and Objectives, Project Design and the Management and Organizational Capability) to 25 pages, double-spaced in 10- or 12-point font size. The application abstract cannot exceed one, single-spaced page. There is no page limit on the budget section including the budget worksheets and budget narrative pages. Appended material, including resumes, is limited to 20 pages and should not include letters of support except where such letters describe the roles and responsibilities of applicant partners in the proposed effort. Delivery Instructions All application packages should be mailed or delivered to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, c/o Juvenile Justice Resource Center, 1600 Research Boulevard, Mail Stop 2K, Rockville, MD 20850; 301-251-5535. Note: In the lower left-hand corner of the envelope, you must clearly write ``Training and Technical Assistance for National Innovations to Reduce Disproportionate Minority Confinement.'' Due Date Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the original and five copies of the application package are postmarked or delivered on or before April 7, 1997. Mailed applications must be received by April 14, 1997. Applications must be submitted with SF424 (Rev. 1988), Application for Federal Assistance, as the cover sheet. Proposals must also be accompanied by OJP Form 7150/1 (50-95), Budget Detail Worksheet; OJP Form 4061/6, Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; and OJP Form 4000/3, Assurances. All applicants must sign and submit the Assurances form indicating that they are in compliance with Federal laws and regulations which prohibit discrimination in any program or activity that receives Federal funds. To obtain the appropriate forms, call the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse at (800) 638-8736 or (301) 251-5500. Applicants may also download these forms from the Application Kit: Competitive Discretionary Grant Programs, located on the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention web site at http://www.ncjrs.org/toc.htm. For further information Contact: Robin V. Delany-Shabazz, Program Manager, Training and Technical Assistance Division, on 202-307-9963, or send an e-mail to delany@ojp.usdoj.gov. Dated: January 21, 1997. Shay Bilchik, Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Endnotes 1. Howard N. Snyder and Melissa Sickmund, Juvenile Offenders and Victims: A National Report (Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, August 1995), p. 92; William Feyerherm, Lessons Learned (Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 1996, in press). 2. Marc Mauer and Tracy Huling, Young Black Americans and the Criminal Justice System: Five Years Later (Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project, 1995), 1-2. References American Bar Association. America's Children at Risk: A National Agenda for Legal Action. Report of ABA Working Group on the Unmet Legal Needs of Children and Their Families, 1993. Annie E. Casey Foundation. Kids Count Data Book. Baltimore, MD: Casey Foundation, 1995. [[Page 5283]] Bishop, D.M., and C.E. Frazier. A Study of Race and Juvenile Processing in Florida. A report submitted to the Florida Supreme Court Racial and Ethnic Bias Study Commission, 1990. Children's Defense Fund. State of America's Children. Washington, DC: Children's Defense Fund, 1996. Community Research Associates. Status of the States Reports: A Review of State Materials Regarding Over-Representation of Minority Youth in the Juvenile Justice System. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, in press. (Source of preliminary and anecdotal information from State status reports on DMC.) Kempf, K.L., S.H. Ecker, and R.L. Bing. An Analysis of Apparent Disparities in the Handling of Black Youth Within Missouri's Juvenile Justice System. St. Louis: Department of Administration of Justice, University of Missouri, 1990. Lockhart, L.L., P.D. Kurtz, R. Stephen, and K. Gauger. Georgia's Juvenile Justice System: A Retrospective Investigation of Racial Disparity. Research report to the Georgia Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council: Part I of the Racial Disparity Investigation. School of Social Work, University of Georgia, 1990. Pope, C.E. ``Blacks and Juvenile Crime: A Review'' in D.E. Georges- Abeyie (ed.), The Criminal Justice System and Blacks. San Francisco, CA: Chandler Publishing, 1984. Pope, C.E., and W. Feyerherm. ``Minorities and the Juvenile Justice System.'' OJJDP Research Summary. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, 1993. Pope, C.E., and W. Feyerherm. ``Minority Status and Juvenile Justice Processing.'' Criminal Justice Abstracts 22 (2): 327-336 (part I); 22 (3): 527-542 (part II), 1990. [FR Doc. 97-2704 Filed 2-3-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410-18-P