Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Department of Juvenile Justice

What is the purpose of the department?

The Department of Juvenile Justice's mission is to increase public safety by reducing juvenile delinquency through effective prevention, intervention, and treatment services that strengthen families and turn around the lives of troubled youth.

What services does the department provide?

The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) provides services statewide that include the following four areas within the juvenile justice process.
  • Prevention Services provides voluntary delinquent prevention programs by contracting with and offering grants to service providers. The programs are designed to help high-risk youth avoid committing crimes.
  • Detention provides supervision for youth who are held pursuant to a court order, or have been arrested for a violation of the law, and less restrictive interim placement alternatives prior to adjudication and disposition are not appropriate.
  • Probation and Community Intervention supervises youth who are participating in sanctions and services while they remain in their communities.
  • Residential Services supervises youth who have been adjudicated by the court and sent to state residential commitment programs.
The department also offers services to youth through Health Services and the Office of Education.

How many youth are served?

In Fiscal Year 2021-22:

How does the department monitor and evaluate services?

The department monitors and evaluates programs in several ways.

Can the department help with children who need assistance?

Parents of a child who is in need, repeatedly skips school, or runs away from home can get help from the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services. This organization connects youths and families to community resources and counseling programs that work with troubled youth and their families.  This intervention can help prevent serious outcomes like a child dropping out of school, living on the streets, or being arrested.

What are the obligations of parents of delinquent youth?

Parents and guardians are required by law to pay up to $5 a day for the cost of care (such as room and board expenses) when their delinquent child is in state custody and $1 a day when the child is under state supervision in the community, such as probation. The amount is mandatory, unless a waiver or reduction is requested by the parents and approved by the judge.

How are these activities funded?

Fiscal Year: 2023-24
Fund Dollars Positions
JUVENILE JUSTICE, DEPARTMENT OF
PROGRAM: ACCOUNTABILITY AND PROGRAM SUPPORT
CONTRACTING AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
10,435,507
125.50
PROGRAM: JUVENILE DETENTION PROGRAM
DETENTION CENTERS
155,215,236
1,453.00
PROGRAM: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY/ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES
22,966,189
176.00
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
9,486,544
60.50
PROGRAM: PREVENTION AND VICTIM SERVICES
DELINQUENCY PREVENTION AND DIVERSION
105,974,843
20.00
PROGRAM: PROBATION AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROGRAM
COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS AND SERVICES
60,697,583
496.00
COMMUNITY SUPERVISION
108,917,744
826.50
PROGRAM: RESIDENTIAL CORRECTIONS PROGRAM
NON-SECURE RESIDENTIAL COMMITMENT
158,216,767
.00
SECURE RESIDENTIAL COMMITMENT
88,548,000
90.00
TOTAL
720,458,413
3,247.50

Updates

Florida Scholars Academy.  The 2023 Legislature passed Ch. 2023-59, Laws of Floridawhich creates the Florida Scholars Academy. The mission of the academy is to provide a free and high-quality education and to prepare youth in residential commitment programs for gainful employment upon their reentry into the community. The bill also specifies that each residential commitment site is a campus of the Florida Scholars Academy. The bill allows for collaboration of services by allowing DJJ to contract with education service providers to operate, provide, or supplement instruction services that allow students to earn a high school diploma or equivalency diploma or enroll in a degree program at a Florida college or university. It also creates a board of trustees made up of the Secretary of DJJ and three board members appointment by the Governor.

Juvenile Justice Changes. The 2021 Legislature passed Ch. 2021-219, Laws of Florida, which made several changes at the state level. This law permanently created the Accountability and Program Support Program within the Department of Juvenile Justice and changed the name of a unit from Prevention and Victim Services to Prevention Services. Additionally, the law authorized the Department of Juvenile Justice to work with the Department of Education to review alternative models for education services in detention and residential facilities.

The law also made changes at the local level. The law amended the detention cost-sharing plan to ensure that a non-fiscally constrained county providing its own juvenile detention care is not required to participate in detention cost sharing. Additionally, in order to take a child into custody for failing to appear, a court must consider five specified criteria before issuing the order. For example, the court must consider if any person provided the notice to the child. Finally, several entities, including judges, state attorneys, and public defenders, must collaborate and create a plan for appropriate alternative incentives and consequences pertaining to technical probation violations. The incentives or consequences must be included in the child’s disposition order.

Where can I find related OPPAGA reports?

A complete list of related OPPAGA reports is available on our website.

Where can I get more information?

Other Reports
The Auditor General reports on department operations are available on its website
The Florida Department of Financial Services reports on agency contract management reviews are available on its website 
Monthly Accountability Scorecard, Department of Juvenile Justice
Quality Improvement Program Reports, Department of Juvenile Justice
Comprehensive Accountability Reports, Department of Juvenile Justice
Service Continuum Analysis Report, Department of Juvenile Justice

Websites of Interest
National Center for Juvenile Justice
Evident Change
U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics
U.S. Department of Justice, National Criminal Justice Reference Service
U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Performance Measures

Performance Information


Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

What are the applicable statutes?

Chapters 984 and 985, and s. 20.316, Florida Statutes

Whom do I contact for help?

Headquarters, 850-488-1850
Website