34 U.S.C. § 10403: Grant eligibility

the activities proposed to be carried out with such grant; and the criteria by which the State proposes to assess the effectiveness of such activities on achieving the purposes of this subchapter, including the extent to which evidence-based approaches are utilized; and assurances that the State and any unit of local government to which the State provides funding under section 10404(b) of this title , has in effect (or shall have in effect, not later than 1 year after the date that the State submits such application) laws, or has implemented (or shall implement, not later than 1 year after the date that the State submits such application) policies and programs, that provide for a system of graduated sanctions described in subsection (d). the activities proposed to be carried out with such subgrant; and the criteria by which the unit proposes to assess the effectiveness of such activities on achieving the purposes of this subchapter, including the extent to which evidence-based approaches are utilized; and such assurances as the State shall require, that, to the maximum extent applicable, the unit of local government has in effect (or shall have in effect, not later than 1 year after the date that the unit submits such application) laws, or has implemented (or shall implement, not later than 1 year after the date that the unit submits such application) policies and programs, that provide for a system of graduated sanctions described in subsection (d). The requirements of paragraph (1) shall apply to a specially qualified unit that receives funds from the Attorney General under section 10404(e) of this title , except that information that is otherwise required to be submitted to the State shall be submitted to the Attorney General. In the development of the grant application, the States and units of local governments shall take into consideration the needs of the judicial branch in strengthening the juvenile justice system and specifically seek the advice of the chief of the highest court of the State and where appropriate, the chief judge of the local court, with respect to the application. sanctions are imposed on a juvenile offender for each delinquent offense; sanctions escalate in intensity with each subsequent, more serious delinquent offense; there is sufficient flexibility to allow for individualized sanctions and services suited to the individual juvenile offender; and appropriate consideration is given to public safety and victims of crime. its system of graduated sanctions is discretionary; and it demonstrates that it has promoted the use of a system of graduated sanctions by taking steps to encourage implementation of such a system by juvenile courts. which has not implemented a system of graduated sanctions, to submit an annual report that explains why such court did not implement graduated sanctions; and which has implemented a system of graduated sanctions but has not imposed graduated sanctions in all cases, to submit an annual report that explains why such court did not impose graduated sanctions in all cases. Each unit of local government, other than a specially qualified unit, that has 1 or more juvenile courts that use a discretionary system of graduated sanctions shall collect the information reported under subparagraph (A) for submission to the State each year. Each State and specially qualified unit that has 1 or more juvenile courts that use a discretionary system of graduated sanctions shall collect the information reported under subparagraph (A) for submission to the Attorney General each year. A State shall also collect and submit to the Attorney General the information collected under subparagraph (B). The term “discretionary” means that a system of graduated sanctions is not required to be imposed by each and every juvenile court in a State or unit of local government. The term “sanctions” means tangible, proportional consequences that hold the juvenile offender accountable for the offense committed. A sanction may include counseling, restitution, community service, a fine, supervised probation, or confinement.