Juvenile Justice Project

The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

The Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley will receive funding from the FY 2009 Congressionally Selected Awards Program. The Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley is an independent, community based organization with a long history of keeping youth and families out of the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. The purpose of the project is to protect the community from crime by focusing increased attention and resources on its youngest criminals. The program is designed to offer those in the juvenile justice system alternative sanctions. Project benefits to young people include opportunities to realize consequences of their actions early, to be accountable to the community, and to escape more serious sanctions. Project goals are to decrease the number of delinquency petitions filed in the three counties served by the program, the number of juveniles adjudicated delinquent, and the number of juveniles sentenced to stays in the Detention Home or Department of Corrections. Services being added to what is currently available to youth in the Juvenile Justice System inclde community restitution for first time offenders, a rotating evening reporting center for youth in the juvenile justice system as an alternative to placement in detention or other secure setting or further involvement in the court system, individual and family therapy as appropriate, and case management to aid in linkage to all available community resources.

NCA/NCF