Drug Court and Corrections Project

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) allows states, tribes, and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice for any one or more of the following purpose areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).

The county of Orange will utilize its Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award in the amount of $200,827 to support their Juvenile Delinquency Drug Court Program and the forensics social worker. The main goal of the Drug Court Program is to reduce recidivism and substance abuse among their juvenile offenders. The JAG funds for the Drug Court Program will be used to pay personnel costs for three juvenile court counselors. The juvenile court counselors are responsible for continually testing the participants for drug use, referring them to other agencies, and monitoring the youth's attendance in intensive outpatient treatment services. The forensics social worker performs professional and administrative social work involving complicated and difficult cases; provides mental health inmates with thorough discharge and case planning; and coordinates ongoing case management and follow-up.

NCA/NCF