Youth and Family Services

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) allows states and units of local government, including tribes, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and 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, including for any one or more of the following program areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment and enforcement programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).

The city of Pasadena will utilize the FY 2014 Local JAG funds to support the city's Youth Accountability Board (YAB) program. The YAB program was established in 1998 as a component in the city of Pasadena Police Department's effort to reduce the amount of violent crime occurring in Pasadena, especially those crimes committed by juvenile offenders and crimes involving juvenile victims. Funds will be used to support the following efforts: (1) Counseling as part of the YAB contract (juveniles are required to attend weekly counseling sessions with therapists); (2) Drug/Alcohol Testing as part of the YAB contract (juveniles who are charged with possession will be randomly tested); (3) Mentoring as part of YAB contract (volunteers will mentor the juveniles on a weekly basis); (4) Parenting Skills as part of YAB contract (parents of juveniles are mandated to attend parenting classes); and (5) Prevention Delinquency as part of the YAB contract (juveniles are required to have earlier curfews than the city's sanctioned curfew). NCA/NCF