OFFICE
OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AUTHORIZATION:
Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, Sections 261, 262,
Public Law 93-415, as amended; Public Laws 95- 503, 95-115, 96-509,
98-473, 100-690, and 102-586, 42 U.S.C. 5601 et seq.
To
develop and implement programs that design, test, and demonstrate
effective approaches, techniques and methods for preventing and
controlling juvenile delinquency such as community based- alternatives
to institutional confinement; developing and implementing effective
means of diverting juveniles from the traditional juvenile justice
system; programs stressing advocacy activities aimed at improving
services to youth impacted by the juvenile justice system; model
programs to strengthen and maintain the family unit including self-help
programs; prevention and treatment programs relating to juveniles
who commit serious crimes; programs to prevent hate crimes; programs
to provide aftercare and reintegration services; programs to prevent
youth gun and gang violence.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Provision of Specialized Services. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
To
be eligible for a Special Emphasis Assistance Award or contract,
an applicant must: (1) respond to legislative requirements contained
in Section 261 (a) and (b) of the JJDP Act, as amended as well as
specific program guidelines issued by the Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP); (2) be consistent with the objectives
and priorities of OJJDP and the State's comprehensive juvenile justice
and delinquency prevention plan; (3) provide for proper program
administration, evaluation, and fiscal reporting; (4) demonstrate,
in the overall quality of the proposal, that the program is technically
sound and will achieve the required program objectives at the highest
possible level; (5) demonstrate that the proposed project meets
the requirements of relative cost effectiveness pursuant to Section
262 (c1) and (c5) of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Act; and (6) respond to clear and documentable needs.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Special Emphasis funds are available
under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974,
as amended, to public and private nonprofit agencies, organizations,
individuals, State and local units of government, combinations of
State or local units.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Public and private youth serving
agencies/organizations, State and local units of government, combinations
of such units, or other private agencies, organizations, institutions
or individuals.
Credentials/Documentation:
Administration and cost appropriateness will be determined in
accordance with the provisions of OMB circulars and government-wide
common rules applicable to grants and cooperative agreements,
including OMB Circular Nos. A-87 for State and local governments,
A-21 for educational institutions, and A-122 for nonprofit organizations.
Pre-application
Coordination: Special Emphasis: In some program
initiatives, applicants are invited to submit preliminary applications
or concept papers in response to program announcements issued by
OJJDP. The original and one copy are sent to the OJJDP in Washington,
DC, and where applicable one copy is sent to the Criminal Justice
Council; or the original and two copies are sent to the OJJDP if
the proposed program extends beyond State boundaries. Preliminary
applications are not to exceed 15 pages, but may have supporting
information in appendices. Preliminary applications are judged on
program requirements according to pre-defined selection criteria.
Those applicants judged to meet selection criteria at the highest
level are invited to develop full applications. Each program announcement
provides the dates for preliminary application submission. The standard
application forms as furnished by the Federal agency, in accordance
with 28 CFR Part 66 (Common Rule) or OMB Circular No. A-110, must
be used for these submissions. These concept papers are applications
eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review
of Federal Programs," and applies except for grants which are national
in scope. Program announcements will provide instructions regarding
the necessity of submission to single State agencies. An applicant
should consult the office or official designated as the single point
of contact in his or her State for more information on the process
the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if
the State has identified the program for review.
Application
Procedure: The applicant submits an original
and 2 copies of proposals on Standard Form 424 in response to
specific guidelines published by OJJDP. Applicants are expected
to address each concern or requirement in the guidelines as clearly
and specifically as possible, giving particular attention to goal
and objective statements, methodology and data requirements. A
peer review group is established as mandated in Section 262(d)(1)(A)
of JJDP Act and applications are rated and ranked in relation
to pre-defined selection criteria. This program is subject to
the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110 and the Common Rule.
Award
Procedure: Assistance awards and contracts
are awarded directly to applicants or may be awarded to State
agencies established to administer the JJDP Act Formula Grant
Program or a National Program Coordinator with a subgrant or contract
to successful applicants for program administration and implementation.
In either instance, both grantees and subgrantees are notified
of a pending award.
Deadlines:
Published in program announcements or requests for proposals.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 1 to 3
months.
Appeals:
Informal reconsideration by Administrator for assistance applicants,
administrative hearings for assistance award terminations. See
C.F.R. Pat 18, 50 F.R. 28199, July 11, 1985.
Renewals:
Continuation grant, supplemental award or contract modification.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Special Emphasis:
Grants awarded under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Act do not require a cash match.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Initial Awards
usually are made for 12 to 18 months and with further funding
based upon the project period, grantee performance and availability
of funds. Drawdowns are possible under a Letter of Credit.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
For Special Emphasis: Biannual and final financial and progress
reports are required.
Audits:
All organizations that expend financial assistance of $300,000
or more in any fiscal year must have a single audit for that year
in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133, as amended, unless
the audit condition on the award says otherwise. These audits
are due to the cognizant Federal agency not later than 9 months
after the end of the grantee's fiscal year.
Records:
Grantee must keep complete records on the disposition of funds,
and records related to the grant must be retained for three years
after the date of the final report.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 15-0405-0-1-754.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $22,269,918; FY 02 est $33,868,296; and FY 03 est
$2,500,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance: Not available.
In fiscal year 2001, OJJDP's Special Emphasis Discretionary Grant
Program provided continuing support for several key programs, including
truancy prevention and intervention, partnerships to reduce juvenile
gun violence, community assessment centers, and its SafeFutures
program. OJJDP's Intensive Aftercare Program for Juvenile Offenders
was provided additional support to make training available to State's
interested in restructuring their transition strategies. OJJDP also
provided continuation support for two programs designed to promote
systemic change on behalf of girls involved in or at risk of becoming
involved in the juvenile justice system. OJJDP provided continuation
support for its National Youth Network (NYN) which is designed to
utilize and build upon the power and importance of youth leadership
by uniting young people and adults through communication and action
to ensure a formidable impact on communities and youth.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Special emphasis program guidelines are published in the Federal
Register and awards are governed by the OJP Financial Guide which
is available upon request. Reports and studies developed through
the OJJDP National Institute (NIJJDP) are available and can be secured
by contacting OJJDP in Washington, DC.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: None.
Headquarters
Office: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice,
Washington, DC 20531. Telephone: (202) 307-5914. Use the same
number for FTS.
Web
Site Address: http://www.usdoj.gov
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Under the Special Emphasis discretionary program, several programs
were continued in FY 2001. Examples of funded projects include demonstration
and testing efforts to determine the most effective strategies for
preventing youth gun violence, demonstrating the preventative impact
of the arts on youth at risk and youth involved in the juvenile
justice system, programs that provide structured afterschool programming
for high-risk youth, programs to divert youth from the juvenile
justice system, programs to address truancy and school dropout,
and a program through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to address
employment and job skills for at-risk youth in communities around
the country.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Applications are judged according to their consistency with the
policies and program priorities established by the Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention Act. Specific criteria are applied that
are related to the particular program areas under which projects
are funded. The criteria are published in the Federal Register as
part of the individual program announcements. Applications undergo
a competitive peer review process as outlined in the OJJDP Competition
and Peer Review Policy 28 CFR Part 34.
