NCJ Number
77687
Date Published
1980
Length
83 pages
Annotation
A statewide overview and system's perspective are provided for Florida Youth Services program operation during fiscal year 1979-80.
Abstract
Information is provided on the perormance of detention services, community control and furlough services, and commitment programs. The overall use rates for Youth Services community-based commitment programs were good during fiscal year 1979-80. Associated Marine Institutes, Project STEP, San Antonio Boys Village, halfway houses, and STOP Camp programs met or exceeded the 97 percent performance standard. Moreover, TRY Centers, family group homes, and START Centers exhibited use rates under budgeted capacity for committed youth. Although the Secure Detention program experienced some overuse during the year, figures were lower than those for previous years. However, the Attention Home component of the Non-Secure Detention program encountered great difficulty in contracting allocated beds and keeping them occupied during the year. Youths remained on Community Control caseloads 2.3 months longer than the 6-month standard. In addition, considerable caseload reductions were accomplished during the year, although racial distributions within some commitment programs were not consistent with racial proportions of the overall commitment population. Training school populations were reduced during the year, partially as a result of increased use of community-based programs and a slight decrease in length of stay. A high percentage of children from Youth Services commitment programs received honorable terminations from subsequent furlough supervision. The transfer rates from Youth Services commitment programs to programs of greater restrictiveness during the year showed substantial improvement over previous years. This was the result of policy guidelines and monitoring by district and State personnel. Tabular data and footnotes are provided. (Author abstract modified)