OJJDP Formula Grants Program Overview

• NCJ Number: 207073
• Author(s): Heidi M. Hsia Ph.D.
• Date Published: September 2004
• Length: 2 pages
• Agencies: OJJDP
• Publication Type: Policy/Procedure Handbook/Manual

Annotation

This Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Fact Sheet provides an overview of the OJJDP Formula Grants program.

Abstract

The Formula Grants funds are appropriated by Congress and awarded by OJJDP to the 50 States, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia based on the proportion of their population aged 18 or younger. Two-thirds of the funds must be used for programs run by public and private agencies. Eligibility requirements include documented efforts toward the deinstitutionalization of status offenders within the jurisdiction, the separation of juveniles from adult offenders while in detainment or while confined, the removal of juveniles from jail detainment, and the confrontation of issues involving disproportionate juvenile justice minority contact. Noncompliance with requirements, despite good faith efforts, results in a subsequent 20 percent reduction in formula grant funds for the following year. Program areas eligible for grant assistance include program planning and administration, family-oriented programming, expanded use of probation officers, youth gang prevention programming, and alcohol and substance abuse programs, among others. The award process is described; every 3 years, each State must submit a comprehensive 3-year formula grants plan and annual updates are required to reflect emerging trends and needs within juvenile justice strategies and programming. Regulations for the Formula Grants program are undergoing Department of Justice review and will be announced on the OJJDP Web site.