Title: An Overview of the JAIBG Program Series: Fact Sheet Author: Cecilia Duquela Published: April 2001 Subject: Juvenile justice general 5 pages 8,000 bytes -------------------------- To view this document in its entirety, download the Adobe Acrobat graphic file available from this Web site or order a print copy from NCJRS at 800-638- 8736. --------------------------- An Overview of the JAIBG Program by Cecilia Duquela The Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grants (JAIBG) program, administered by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), is designed to promote greater accountability among juveniles who are involved in the juvenile justice system. To that end, the program provides support, both financial and programmatic, to improve juvenile justice system infrastructure and operations at the State and local levels. JAIBG funds are allocated to States based on each State's relative population of youth under age 18. State Eligibility and Program Areas States participating in the JAIBG program are required to consider adopting State laws, policies, or procedures that (1) establish criminal prosecution by law or direct file for juveniles age 15 or older who are alleged to have committed a serious violent crime, (2) impose sanctions for every delinquent act and escalate sanctions for subsequent, more serious offenses, (3) establish a system of juvenile delinquency records similar to that of adult criminal records, and (4) promote increased parental supervision of juvenile offenders by facilitating the issuance of court orders that require such supervision and impose sanctions for violation of such orders. In addition, participating States are required to establish a policy for testing certain categories of alleged or adjudicated juvenile offenders for use of controlled substances. JAIBG funds can be used for the following 12 program purpose areas: 1. Operation, expansion, renovation, or construction of temporary or permanent juvenile detention or correctional facilities, including training of correctional personnel. 2. Development and administration of accountability-based sanctions programs for juvenile offenders. 3. Hiring of judges, probation officers, and defenders and funding of pretrial services to improve the administration of the juvenile justice system. 4. Hiring of prosecutors in order to reduce backlogs of cases involving juvenile offenders. 5. Funding of prosecutor-led drug, gang, and violence programs. 6. Funding for training, technology, and equipment to help prosecutors identify and prosecute violent juvenile offenders. 7. Funding for implementation of more effective probation programs administered by juvenile courts and probation offices. 8. Establishment of juvenile gun courts to adjudicate and prosecute juvenile firearms offenders. 9. Establishment of juvenile drug court programs to provide supervision of juvenile offenders with substance abuse problems and an integrated administration of sanctions and services. 10. Establishment and enhancement of interagency information-sharing programs to promote enhanced collaboration between schools, law enforcement, and social service agencies. 11. Accountability-based programs for law enforcement referrals or to promote increased school safety by addressing drug, gang, and youth violence. 12. Controlled substance testing (including interventions) for juvenile offenders. Distribution of Funds to States Of the total allocation to a State, up to 25 percent can be retained at the State level, absent a waiver. A State can request a waiver if it can demonstrate that it bears the primary financial burden (more than 50 percent) for the administration of juvenile justice within that State. Distribution of Funds to Units of Local Government Unless a State receives a waiver, each State must distribute not less than 75 percent of its allocation among units of local government in the State. A unit of local government must qualify for a minimum of $5,000 under the substate allocation formula in order to receive a subgrant award. This calculation is based on a formula that combines local law enforcement expenditures and the number of juvenile violent crime arrests for each jurisdiction. Matching Funds A State or unit of local government recipient of a JAIBG award must provide at least 10 percent of the total program cost in the form of a cash match. However, when funds are used to construct a permanent juvenile facility, the cash match must be at least 50 percent of total program costs. JAIBG program funds cannot be used to supplant State or local funds. Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalitions States and units of local government participating in the JAIBG program have established Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalitions (JCECs), which are responsible for formulating a coordinated enforcement plan for reducing juvenile crime. State JCECs consist of law enforcement and social service agencies involved in juvenile delinquency prevention. If members of the State Advisory Group (SAG), which is appointed to administer the Formula Grants program within the State, include law enforcement and social service agency representatives, then the SAG can also serve as the State's JCEC. JCECs established by units of local government must include representation from law enforcement, schools, juvenile court, probation services, businesses, and nonprofit social service organizations. Units of local government may use appropriately constituted Prevention Policy Boards, established under OJJDP's Title V Community Prevention Grants program, to meet the JCEC requirement. Training and Technical Assistance Training and technical assistance support for implementing the JAIBG program is available to States and units of local government from Development Services Group, Inc. (DSG) of Bethesda, MD. Information about training and technical assistance can be obtained by calling DSG toll free, 877-GO- JAIBG (877-465-2424), or by visiting the DSG Web site, www.dsgonline.com. -------------------------- For Further Information For additional information about the JAIBG program, contact: Chyrl Andrews, JAIBG Program Manager Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 810 Seventh Street NW. Washington, DC 20531 202-307-5924 andrewsc@ojp.usdoj.gov (e-mail) ------------------------------ The JAIBG Guidance Manual, Version 3.0, is designed to help States and units of local government apply for, receive, obligate, and expend JAIBG funds. The Guidance Manual can be obtained from OJJDP's home page, www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org. Printed copies are available from the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse, 800-638-8736. ----------------------------- Cecilia Duquela is a State Representative in OJJDP's State and Tribal Assistance Division. ----------------------------- The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office for Victims of Crime. ----------------------------- FS-200109