Teen Court: A National Movement
Funding
The grass-roots origins of most teen courts have resulted in support from a wide
variety of funding sources. Examples of state support for teen courts were given earlier
in this publication. Sources for federal funds include
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an agency of the U.S.
Department of Transportation, provides federal dollars to states to dispense locally for
programs that address highway safety concerns, such as underage drinking and impaired
driving. For information about those grants, contact your state Highway Traffic Safety
Office. For a list of those telephone numbers, call NHTSA at (202) 366-2121.
- The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law
Enforcement Assistance Formula Grant Program provides federal matching grants to states to
help create safer communities and improved criminal justice systems. To learn the
telephone number of the state office administering those grants, call BJA at (202)
514-6638.
- The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) provides states with
Formula Funds and Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grants for accountability in the
juvenile justice system. The Formula Funds also provide grants for delinquency prevention.
Information about both funding programs and a list of the state juvenile justice
specialists who administer the programs are available at OJJDP at (202) 616-2368.
- The U.S. Department of Education's Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program helps state and
local educational agencies and other nonprofit organizations develop and operate drug and
violence prevention programs. For a list of state coordinators of the program, call the
Safe and Drug Free Schools Program at (202) 260-3954.
There are many foundations and charitable organizations that help support teen courts.
Most are local to the community but may have national affiliation, such as the Junior
League, the American Legion Auxiliary, YMCA, the United Way, and Boys and Girls Clubs.
State and local bar associations and bar foundations are often involved in providing
funding.
Many teen courts receive funding (and in-kind support) from city and county
governments, juvenile courts, juvenile probation, and school districts. Less frequently,
teen courts impose service fees. Many teen courts are in a constant quest for additional
and more stable sources of funding, although they are among the least expensive crime
prevention programs to operate.
>>What are teen courts?
>>The Growth of Teen Courts
>>The Major Models
>>Steps for Implementing a Teen Court
>>Teen Courts and Law-Related Education
>>Delinquency Prevention; The Educational Role
>>Training
>>Profile: Salt Lake City's Peer Court
>>Student Courts
>>How Do Lawyers, Judges, and the Bar Support Teen
Courts?
>>Profile: A Lawyer's Inside View of Teen Court
>>Profile: The Wyoming Bar and Teen Court
>>Evaluation
>>Funding
>>Conclusion and References
>>Resources and Additional Information
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