MENU TITLE: Accountability-Based Sanctions. Series: OJJDP Published: March 1997 3 pages 5,236 bytes Accountability-Based Sanctions by Mark A. Matese The 104th Congress allocated $16.5 million in Fiscal Year 1997 funds to support Innovative Local Law Enforcement and Community Policing (ILLECP) programs in States that provide assurance that "the State has in effect (or will have in effect within one year of application) policies and programs that ensure that juveniles are subject to accountability-based sanctions for every act for which they are adjudicated delinquent." The purpose of this Fact Sheet is to provide information on the accountability-based sanctions (ABS) requirement of the ILLECP program. Conceptual Framework For States that administer Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act Formula Grant funds, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) generally defines ABS, for the purposes of the ILLECP program, as "any service, sanction, or juvenile offender option that juvenile offenders are subject to and whose primary goal is to hold adjudicated juvenile offenders responsible for their delinquent conduct." Thus, any service, sanction, juvenile offender option, legislation, policy, or program whose primary goal is offender accountability fits the definition of an accountability-based sanction. States must demonstrate that a system of ABS is in effect (or will be in effect no later than 1 year from the date of application) in order to be eligible to receive a supplemental ILLECP Formula Grants program allocation to support youth-focused community policing programs. Policies and Programs The concept of ABS is captured by the system of graduated sanctions outlined in OJJDP's Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders (1993), its Guide for Implementing the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders (1995), and in the principles of Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ). These models emphasize accountability in the following manner: A system of graduated sanctions provides accountability through: o Immediate sanctions within the community for first-time, nonviolent offenders. o Intermediate sanctions within the community for more serious offenders and repeat nonviolent offenders. o Secure care programs for the most serious and violent offenders, including chronic offenders. o Aftercare programs that provide high levels of social control and treatment services. Balanced and Restorative Justice is based on the following principles: o Offender accountability. o Community protection. o Competency development. o Balance between the interests of the community, victim, and offender. Services, sanctions, or other dispositional options for juvenile offenders provide the juvenile court with case-appropriate options and the juvenile justice community with a powerful conceptual framework for organizing effective strategies that emphasize community safety and juvenile offender accountability. In meeting this requirement, States are asked to describe the services, sanctions, or other options that are currently available; identify gaps in services; and enhance the courts' options for juvenile offenders. Meeting the Assurance In order to demonstrate that an ABS system exists, the State's review of existing services, sanctions, and options should include an analysis of enabling legislation, court rules, and executive orders describing any existing system of graduated sanctions, BARJ system approach, or other accountability-based policies and programs. This statewide review should include government agency responsibilities, ongoing State and local initiatives, community corrections options, and a private juvenile offender service provider options inventory. A summary of the State's review should be included in a written description of the juvenile justice system as part of the State's JJDP Act Three Year Plan. ILLECP Awards The availability of Fiscal Year 1997 ILLECP Formula Grant funds was announced in December 1996. Since then, OJJDP has conducted training for State juvenile justice specialists on the ILLECP program application and on youth-focused community policing program models. Through February, 15 States had submitted applications to OJJDP for ILLECP grants for youth-focused community policing programs. It is anticipated that the remaining States will submit applications for 1997 ILLECP Formula Grant supplemental funds as part of their Three Year JJDP Plans, which are due to OJJDP by March 31, 1997. For Further Information Information on graduated sanctions, BARJ, and other accountability-based sanctions programs is available through OJJDP's Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse, 800-638-8736. Specific State information may be obtained by contacting your State Juvenile Justice Specialist. For other questions call OJJDP's State Relations and Assistance Division, 202-307-5924. Mark A. Matese serves as Social Science Program Specialist in OJJDP's State Relations and Assistance Division.