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Oct. 09, 2007

Gov. Perry Awards $2.88 Million in Grants to Juvenile Offender Accountability Programs

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry awarded $2.88 million in grants to 41 programs dedicated to promoting greater accountability in the juvenile justice system. The grants are awarded through the federal Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) program and distributed by the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division (CJD).

“These grants are an important step toward aiding young Texans and protecting our communities,” Perry said. “By funding these services, we help Texas adolescents that veer to the path of self-destruction and crime find their way back on the road to becoming productive citizens, able to positively contribute to their community.”

JABG funding is used to ensure that juveniles are efficiently tracked through the juvenile justice system and provided options such as restitution, community service, victim-offender mediation and other curative sanctions. Local probation departments, detention facilities and courts use this funding to improve services within the juvenile justice system. The grants also fund crime control and prevention training for law enforcement officers and court personnel, substance abuse treatment and case management through juvenile drug courts, and risk assessments of young offenders.

Each year, CJD awards more than $113 million in grants for a variety of juvenile justice, criminal justice and victim services programs.

The awards include: