New Life Job Court Project

The Congressionally Recommended Awards Program, authorized by the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2010 (Pub. L. 111-117), 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 recommended by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-117, 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 2010 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY2010 Department of Justice Appropriations Act.

The North Carolina Administrative Office will support the New Life Job Court, an employment resource court that assists unemployed and under-employed individuals under a child support order, some with non-violent criminal history, to obtain optimum employment services. Non-payment of child support, resulting in being jailed, as well as job loss, resulting in continued failure to pay child support, is a problem in Durham, as well as across the state. The New Life Job Court will bring the clients to an optimal level of functioning, so that they can become productive, and better working members of society, which will increase the amount of child support collected, so that the children involved can have a better quality of life.

NCA/NCF