This is the "framing paper" for a consultation in which the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is requesting input on how it can collaborate with Tribes (American Indian and Alaska Native) in implementing applicable provisions of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act (JJRA), as well as how the OJJDP can increase Tribes' awareness of and access to juvenile justice funding.
This framing paper first reviews the Tribal provisions in the JJRA. It notes that the JJRA has provisions related to Tribes regarding funding transparency, Tribal representation in state advisory groups, and Title II Formula Grants funding. The framing paper then presents an overview of the OJJDP Title II formula grants program. This section notes that part of the JJRA requires states to pass a specific amount of Title II formula grants to federally recognized Tribes. Tribes may use these funds for a variety of juvenile delinquency prevention and intervention activities, such as counseling, training, and mentoring programs for at-risk youth, juvenile offenders, or youth with an incarcerated parent or guardian. Tribes can also use the grants to fund programs that address the needs of girls who are in or at risk of entering the juvenile justice system. A third section of the framing paper reviews the JJRA's provisions for discretionary grant funding for Tribal youth delinquency prevention and intervention programs. OJJDP participates in the Justice Department's Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, which enables federally recognized tribes to submit a single application for most of OJJDP's grant programs. This framing paper concludes with a listing of questions for which OJJDP is seeking input in the consultation.