The purpose of the Detention Services program in the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is to ensure public safety. The department supervises youth at either a secure detention facility or through supervised release.

• before the court determines whether they are guilty of a crime (pre-adjudication);
• after the court determines whether they are guilty but before they are sentenced (pre-disposition); or
• after they have been sentenced but are waiting for placement in the residential commitment program to which they have been assigned.

Arrested youth are screened using the standardized Detention Risk Assessment Instrument to determine if they need to be placed in secure detention. The assessment weighs whether a youth meets the criteria in s. 985.255, Florida Statutes, which specifies reasons why a youth needs to be securely detained. These criteria include current offenses, prior history, legal status, and aggravating or mitigating factors. For example, a court could order detention if a youth is wanted in another jurisdiction for an offense which would be considered a felony if committed by an adult. Youth who are high-risk are retained in secure detention. Youth who are lower risk according to the risk assessment are placed on supervised release and released to a parent or guardian to remain in the community while awaiting a court hearing.

There are 21 state-operated secure detention centers statewide with a total of 1,223 beds and two county-operated detention centers in Polk and Seminole counties, with a total of 344 beds.

In Fiscal Year 2021-22, there were 9,165 youth served under secure detention, 4,712 served through supervised release without electronic monitoring, and 2,807 served through supervised release with electronic monitoring.

Youth appear before a judge within 24 hours of being taken into custody and may not be placed in detention for longer than 24 hours unless the court orders continued detention. Generally, statutes require the time period a child may be placed in detention care is limited to not more than 21 days unless there has been an adjudicatory hearing. 

County Juvenile Detention Payments.  The 2023 Legislature enacted Ch. 2023-240, Florida Statutes, implementing the Fiscal Year 2023-24 General Appropriations Act. Under current law, the state and counties have joint responsibility to pay for the cost of secure detention. The law requires that DJJ review county juvenile detention payments to ensure that counties are fulfilling their financial responsibilities.  If DJJ finds that a county has not met the obligations, then the Department of Revenue must deduct the amount owed to DJJ from the shared revenue funds provided to the county.

Time in Detention for Firearm Offenses. The 2023 Legislature passed Ch. 2023-87, Laws of Florida, which expands time in detention for youth with certain firearm offenses. Specifically, a youth may serve five days, which was increased from three, for unlawfully possessing a firearm and must serve 21 days, which was increased from 15, for a subsequent offense. It also requires a youth charged with an offense involving a firearm be in detention until the detention hearing. Lastly, it allows the court to extend detention by 21-day increments for a youth charged with an offense involving a firearm.

Detention Time Limitations. The 2022 Legislature enacted Ch. 2022-181, Laws of Florida, which makes several changes to detention care. The law allows for courts to place a child under supervised release detention when the court finds it is necessary for public safety, the child's safety, or compliance with court appearances. Supervised release detention is in the non-secure custody of a parent or guardian under the supervision of DJJ. It can also include electronic monitoring supervised by DJJ, a law enforcement agency, or a partnership of DJJ and a law enforcement agency. A court can place a child on supervised release detention for any timeframe until the completion of the adjudicatory hearing; however, the court must conduct a hearing to determine continued supervision if a child stays on supervised release detention for 60 days.

Generally, statutes require the time period a child may be placed in detention care is limited to not more than 21 days unless there has been an adjudicatory hearing.  The law specifies that the 21-day limit already established under law only applies to secure detention care. Secure detention is when a child is held under physical restriction in a detention center. The 21-day limit applies unless the child is charged with a serious crime. The law expands the types of serious crimes to include any second degree felony and a third degree felony involving violence against a person. The law allows for increases to secure detention to occur in 21-day increments after a hearing. The law also allows for a child to move between supervised release detention and secure detention if the court finds the transition necessary to preserve public safety, the child's safety, or appearance and compliance with the court. Each period of care must count towards the relevant time limitations.

Other Reports
Quality Improvement Program Reports, Department of Juvenile Justice
Comprehensive Accountability Reports, Department of Juvenile Justice
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) Utilization Studies, Department of Juvenile Justice

Websites of Interest
Department of Juvenile Justice, Office of Research and Data Integrity 
Department of Juvenile Justice, Quality Improvement Residential Program Reports

Performance Information

Detention Services, 850-717-2515
Website