NCJ Number
77686
Date Published
1981
Length
44 pages
Annotation
An analysis of the implementation of community control provisions under the 1978 Florida Juvenile Justice Act is reported.
Abstract
The legislation mandated a community control plan for offending youths, specifying rules, requirements, conditions, and programs for every youth placed on supervision. The former probation plans merely recommending that a youth be placed on supervision without specified requirements are not acceptable under the new act. Sanctions may include but are not limited to: rehabilitative restitution, curfew, revocation or suspension of a driver's license, community service, and other appropriate restraints on liberty. The nature of the sanctions and their length of application is to be commensurate with the seriousness of the offense. The dual intent of the community control provisions is to indicate to young offenders that lawbreaking has consequences that require restitution or punishment and to provide shorter terms of supervision that will reduce caseloads and enable counselors to give more attention to difficult cases. Data show that 2 years after the act's implementation, caseload decreases ranged from 64.9 percent in one district to only 10.8 percent in another district. After difficulties during the early months, community work programs appear to be functioning effectively. Payment of restitution to victims continues to be used as a sanction in many cases; total monthly collections are typically between $30,000-40,000. Referral rates for new law violations of active and previous community control cases show that fewer active cases but more previous ones are returning to intake. The combined totals for these two groups are, however, not significantly different from rates for similar cases under the old probation system. Recidivism rates remain unchanged, although smaller caseloads and shorter lengths of stay mean that these youth are more likely to have been discharged prior to their subsequent referrals for new law violations. Tabular data, graphs, and endnotes are provided. (Author abstract modified)