NCJ Number
200113
Date Published
2002
Length
37 pages
Annotation
This report presents 2002 data on juvenile crime trends from Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice.
Abstract
According to the report, Florida’s juvenile justice system uses a balanced approach to respond to juvenile crime. Services provided to juveniles range from early intervention programs, to sanctions, and treatment. The majority of juvenile offenders in Florida remain in their own homes while serving their sentence and take part in community-based services. As a result of their various treatment programs and intervention programs, 60 percent of Florida’s youthful offenders remain arrest-free for at least 1 year after release from a commitment program. Moreover, the average quality assurance rating for all juvenile justice programs increased to 77 percent in 2001, up from 70 percent in 1995. Another improvement in juvenile justice is the 61 percent drop in the number of juveniles transferred to the adult correctional system since 1996. This is due to the increased residential capacity of the juvenile justice system and its improved ability to deliver appropriate consequences and treatment for youthful offenders. The report also focuses on the trends that emerged during 2002, such as the trend of targeting at-risk juveniles for early intervention and prevention programs, trends in juvenile crime rates, and trends regarding female juvenile delinquency. Improving educational services available to youthful offenders and increasing mental health treatment among this population have been two main areas of focus over the course of 2002. The report also describes the re-organization that the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice underwent and offers an organizational chart and a discussion of the major accomplishments over the course of the year.