The purpose of the Probation and Community Intervention program in the Department of Juvenile Justice is to improve the safety of the public by providing youth with effective intervention and case management services and to provide supervision through diversion, probation, and post-commitment services.
Title | Fund | Dollars | Positions |
---|---|---|---|
PROGRAM: PROBATION AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROGRAM | |||
COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS AND SERVICES |
60,697,583
|
496.00 |
|
COMMUNITY SUPERVISION |
108,917,744
|
826.50 |
|
TOTAL |
169,615,327 |
1,322.50 |
Juvenile Civil Citation and Diversion Programs. The 2018 Legislature enacted Ch. 2018-127, Laws of Florida, which requires that a civil citation or similar prearrest diversion program for misdemeanor offenses be established in each judicial circuit. The state attorney of each circuit must operate the program. If a juvenile does not successfully complete the program, the arresting law enforcement office must determine if good cause exists to arrest the juvenile for the original misdemeanor offense and refer the case to the state attorney. The state attorney determines if the juvenile should be prosecuted for the original misdemeanor or continue in the program. Once a juvenile completes the civil citation program or similar prearrest diversion program, the state attorney or operator of another program must report the outcome to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
The 2019 Legislature enacted Ch. 2019-167, Laws of Florida, which made further changes to civil citation. It added a locally authorized entity to the list of entities that can operate a civil citation program as long as the program was already operating as of October 1, 2018, and approved by the state attorney. Additionally, the law transfers data entry responsibility from DJJ to the civil citation program. It requires the program to enter data into DJJ's data system within seven days of the youth's admission.
The 2022 Legislature made further changes to diversion by enacting Ch. 2022-111, Laws of Florida. Under previous law, a youth who commits a first-time misdemeanor can complete a diversion program in order for the court to dismiss the charge and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to expunge the record. The new legislation expands the offenses that are eligible to include any felony that is not a forcible felony or a felony involving the manufacture, sale, purchase, transport, possession, or use of a firearm or weapon.
As of July 2021, a civil citation or similar prearrest diversion program existed in all 67 counties. The Department of Juvenile Justice reported that in Fiscal Year2021-22 counties issued civil citations or another arrest alternative to 11,190 youth, which was 70% of youth who were eligible to receive a civil citation.
Other Reports
Quality Improvement Program Reports, Department of Juvenile Justice
Comprehensive Accountability Reports, Department of Juvenile Justice
Websites of Interest
Department of Juvenile Justice, Office of Research and Data Integrity
Performance Information
Probation and Community Intervention, 850-487-9575
Website