The Juvenile Adjudication Fund (JAF) was created in 2009 to fund alternative adjudication programs for teens charged with misdemeanor crimes.  It is funded through fees assessed on traffic citations. The Local Government Division of the Department of Finance and Administration is charged with administering the funds, and awards competitive grants to local governments to fund programs throughout the state.  

 

Established programs that provide alternatives to traditional court procedures for the resolution of misdemeanor charges are eligible for funding.  Examples of these programs include teen courts, in which a juvenile appears before a jury of his peers that recommends a sentence that may include classes related to the crime, community services, or other activities intended to reduce the chances that a juvenile will commit additional crimes.  Juvenile Adjudication Fund grants can provide a supplemental source of funding to sustain and enhance existing programs.