NCJ Number
150538
Date Published
1994
Length
49 pages
Annotation
This review of the intergovernmental impacts of Florida's 1994 Juvenile Justice Reform Bill focuses on organizational changes, educational programs and issues, direct filings and waivers of juveniles to adult court, due process, contempt of court, traffic cases, detention, commitment program, intake, curfews, and funding and revenue issues.
Abstract
As mandated in the bill, this report includes but is not limited to an analysis of the increase in numbers of juveniles held in county jails in sight and sound separation pending trial, an increase in the cost of administering due process rights of juveniles, an increase in costs for counties to house juvenile drunk-driving offenders, and the need for and anticipated costs of juvenile bail. The review went beyond the legislative mandate to include cities, schools, and other officials participating in the juvenile justice system. The study began by examining the bill's impact on local governments. All of the proposed changes are deemed positive insofar as they work toward a greater societal and community goal of increased public safety, increase accountability of delinquents and their parents to the court and the community, and increase the juvenile justice system's impact on juvenile rehabilitation and decrease recidivism rates. Despite these positive impacts, however, there are other impacts that may be deemed negative or financially burdensome on local governments as they attempt to deal with the changes and mandates placed on them through the bill. Appended charts that match legislative provisions to the service, facility, or entity that is impacted