FEDERAL AGENCY:

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.

OBJECTIVES:

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:   Kellie J. Dressler, Child Protection Division, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia 20531 Phone: (202) 514-4817.

Web Site Address:  
https://ojp.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.