Juvenile Justice: Formula Grants
This grant program is the underpinning of OJJDP programs. Each year New York State receives between $4 and $5 million in Formula Grant funds. After certain administrative funds (determined by OJJDP) are subtracted, at least two thirds of the annual amount is passed through to localities.
Purpose
The purpose of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program is to improve the organization, operation, and collaboration of the various state, local, public, and private agencies that comprise the juvenile justice system.
Title II/Formula Grant funds are intended to provide seed money for new and innovative projects that are designed to measurably reduce juvenile crime, promote individual accountability, enhance public protection, and prevent delinquency through positive youth development. Primary prevention is not covered by this program.
Priority Areas
Priority areas for funding are determined by the New York State Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG), as required by the JJDP Act. The JJAG is appointed by the Governor and must, in collaboration with DCJS, create a Juvenile Justice Plan every three years that describes these priorities. They include:
- Reduction of violent crime through the suppression of gangs, weapons and drugs and the involvement of the family in the comprehensive effort to reduce and prevent violence
- The use of schools as a platform for intervention in truancy, through the use of school resource officers, after school programs or truancy reduction/assessment centers
- Compliance Monitoring, Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders, Disproportionate Minority Contact, Jail Removal and Separation of Juveniles from Adult Inmates (meeting the Requirements of the JJDP Act)
- Delinquency Prevention
- Children of Incarcerated Parents
- Aftercare to reduce recidivism
Process
DCJS reviews applications in preparation for presentation to the JJAG. Persons responsible for the project must attend a JJAG meeting to represent their project. Upon grant approval, a contract is prepared.
Projects are funded for one year, with refunding possible for two subsequent years. Third year funding is provided at 50 percent of the first/second year level, but the grantee must assure that the same level of service will be provided.
Detailed parameters for funding can be found in the 
Three-Year Comprehensive Plan for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, in PDF format. (Please contact DCJS to request a text version of the Three-Year Plan document.)
Title II/Formula funds are awarded via a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. In consultation with the Commissioner of DCJS, the JJAG will select programs for funding and determine the funding to be disbursed for each project within the available appropriation. Final funding decisions will be made in accordance with the best interests of the State.