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State Challenge Grant Program
Juvenile Justice

State Challenge Grants are provided to give incentives to communities to go beyond traditional juvenile programming and to develop, adopt, and improve policies and programs in one or more of the ten specified State Challenge activities. Statutory authority for this program rests in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended in 1992.

FY 2001 funds provide for specific projects that address the following categories:

• Developing and adopting policies and programs designed to remove status offenders from the jurisdiction of juvenile court - Activity G
• Increasing after care services from secure confinement - Activity I

The following is a list of the ten State Challenge Activities:

• Developing and adopting policies and programs to provide basic health, mental health and appropriate education services to youth in the juvenile justice system - Activity A
• Access to counsel for all juveniles in the justice system - Activity B
• Increasing community-based alternatives to incarceration through the use of probation, mediation, restitution and treatment - Activity C
• Secure setting for the placement of violent juvenile offenders by closing down traditional training schools - Activity D
• Prohibiting gender bias in placement and treatment - Activity E
• State ombudsman office to mediate and resolve complaints relating to action, inaction or decisions of providers of out-of-home care to youth - Activity F
• Removal of status offenders from jurisdiction of juvenile court - Activity G
• Alternatives to suspension and expulsion - Activity H
• Aftercare services for juveniles in juvenile justice system - Activity I
• Statewide case review system - Activity J

Goals and objectives include:

• Develop programs designed to divert nonviolent juvenile offenders from the juvenile justice system and provide an alternative to incarceration for nonviolent juvenile offenders.
  • Provide day treatment programming to aid in rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
  • Reduce number of youth who are inappropriately entering system.
• Reduce recidivism rate of juvenile delinquents released from out-of-home, court ordered placements.
  • Provide additional specialized case managers at juvenile correction and detention control.
  • Make periodic field visits to assure compliance with after care plan.

State Challenge Eligible Applicants: State and local units of government and private non-profit agencies

Allowable costs include:

• Personnel expenses for direct services
• Contractual services (limited)
• Travel/training expenses
• Audit costs (2% of award)
• Program materials, supplies, etc.

Funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Total funds available under this project for fiscal year 2001 are approximately $87,500.

Grant Cycle: Request for proposals are mailed in January and application kits are mailed in February. The grant cycle begins July 1 and ends June 30 each year.

Please contact Kimberly Mason, (304) 558-8814, extension 284 for more information.

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