Juvenile Accountability Block Grant
Established by the 2002 Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) program was created to promote greater accountability in the juvenile justice system. Grants are awarded to states for the purpose of strengthening the policies, programs and administrative systems that foster the creation of safe communities. The intent of the JABG program in is to provide communities with funds to reduce juvenile delinquency, improve the juvenile justice system, and increase the accountability of juvenile offenders and the systems that serve them.
Funding Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
CFDA Numbers: 16.523 - Juvenile Accountability Block Grant - Allocation to States
Contact: (317) 232-1233
Application Information
Funding Cycle: Allocations are awarded on a yearly basis. The grant period for JABG grants is (FY) April 1st - March 31st.
Eligible Applicants: Allocations to units of local government (towns, cities and counties) are based on a formula prescribed by federal law: two-thirds (2/3rd ) is based on each jurisdiction's share of average expenditures for law enforcement, corrections, and court-related activities within the jurisdiction, the remaining one-third (1/3rd) of the allocation is determined using available data on each jurisdiction's share of average number of arrests for Part I Index Crimes. Units of local government whose allocation is determined to be $10,000 or above are eligible to apply for a direct JABG award from State.
Application Procedure: Eligible units of local government may apply to receive their JABG allocation each year in December or January. Grant applications may be obtained through the Youth Division. All units of local government applying to receive a JABG allocation are required by federal regulation to establish a Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition and to be responsible for the development of a coordinated enforcement plan for reducing juvenile crime. Coalitions should include individuals representing the following: (1) police, (2) sheriff, (3) prosecutor, (4) probation, (5) community corrections, (6) juvenile court, (7) schools, (8) public defender, (9) business, and (10) religious affiliated, fraternal, nonprofit, or social service organizations involved with juvenile justice issues.
Matching Requirements: Eligible units of local government receiving JABG allocations must contribute in the form of a cash match 10% of the total cost of the program(s) to be implemented using JABG funds, with the exception of construction of permanent correctional facilities, which require a 50% cash match. The JABG program requires a 10% cash match of the total program costs. The formula for calculating federal cash match is as follows: allocation amount x 10/9 = total program costs; total program costs - allocation amount = match amount. For example, if a community's allocation amount is $20,000, you would take $20,000 x 10/9 = $22,222 (total program costs), then $22,222 - $20,000 = $2,222 (match amount). The only restriction to cash match is that it cannot come from other federal funding sources or federal dollars.
Restrictions: Units of local government must have an allocation of $10,000 or more to be eligible to apply to receive a JABG allocation and must meet the application requirements.
Selection Criteria: Allocation-based grant.
Award Procedure: Recommendations to approve or deny funding based on the grant application requirements are made by the JJSAG to the Juvenile Justice Division of the ICJI Board of Trustees. Grant applications are reviewed at the JJSAG and Board of Trustees meetings and formal notification of approval or denial is sent to applicants.
Examples of Funded Projects:
- Juvenile Prosecutors
- Probation staff
- Detention staff & training
- SHOCAP/SAFEPOLICY (information-sharing initiatives)
- Drug & Teen Courts
- Police/Probation Partnerships (Operation Nightlight)
- Police/Probation/School Partnerships
- Community Corrections programs (house arrest, electronic monitoring, community service, etc.)
- Restorative Justice programs
Examples of non-funded types of assistance: JABG subgrantees are eligible to receive training and technical assistance through OJJDP’s National Training & Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC). Every technical assistance request must be submitted to the State JABG Coordinator (ICJI Youth Division Director), who will forward the request to the OJJDP State Representative. Technical assistance request forms can be downloaded at http://www.nttac.org/. Subgrantees need to provide ample time for technical assistance requests to be completed (at least 70 days).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I find out if my city, town or county already receives a JABG grant and how do I get involved with the JABG planning process if my community does receive the grant?
A. Agencies interested in participating in the JABG program can contact the Youth Division director at (317) 233-3340 to obtain a list of communities already receiving JABG grants and the name and agency of the official JABG contact person for that community. If your community has not applied to receive their JABG allocation you can request a copy of the JABG application and begin the JABG planning process. Applications are due in March of each year.
Q. What are the matching requirements for the JABG program?
A. The JABG program requires a 10% cash match of the total program costs. The formula for calculating federal cash match is as follows: allocation amount x 10/9 = total program costs; total program costs - allocation amount = match amount. For example, if a community's allocation amount is $20,000, you would take $20,000 x 10/9 = $22,222 (total program costs), then $22,222 - $20,000 = $2,222 (match amount). The exception to the 10% cash match is the construction of permanent residential facilities which requires a 50% cash match. The only restriction to cash match is that it cannot come from other federal funding sources or federal dollars.
Q. What are the funding options for non-county units of local government that are eligible for an allocation of $10,000 or above?
A. Non-county units of government eligible to receive JABG allocations will be given the opportunity to select one of the following options regarding the use of their allocation:
- Non-county units of government (cities/towns) may establish their own Juvenile Coordinated Enforcement Coalition (see description below), develop their own enforcement plans to reduce juvenile crime and use their allocation independent of the county to implement their plans.
- Non-county units of local government may join in a regional coalition with their county. By establishing a regional coalition, the city/town must sign a waiver of direct sub-grant award, which will allow their allocation to be combined with the county allocation to implement a county-wide enforcement plan to reduce juvenile crime. (Counties may choose to form regional coalitions, but one county must be designated as the fiscal agent and the other county is required to submit a waiver of direct subgrant award authorizing their allocation to be combined with the designated county's allocation.)
Grantee Resources
2012 Grant Award Recipients, please click on the following link to access revised report forms and other relevant materials.
Click here for the Grantee Resources Page
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