Juvenile Adjudication and Remand

Study Notes

Juvenile adjudication happens when a court finds a person under 18 guilty of a crime and sentences them to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Juvenile inmate is a person under 18 who is in custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Youthful offender is a person under 24 who is either sentenced as an adult or designated by the Department of Corrections as a youthful offender.
Juvenile offenders can be remanded to the Department of Corrections as youthful offenders by the court or the Department of Corrections.
The court declares a juvenile a youthful offender if the sentence is less than six years, the offender was under 21 at sentencing, and the offender has not been classified as a youthful offender previously.
The Department of Corrections can designate a juvenile a youthful offender if their sentence is less than 10 years, they're under 24, and they've not been classified as a youthful offender before.
The Department of Corrections can declare a juvenile a youthful offender if they are not otherwise qualified but need special housing due to mental or physical vulnerability.
An offender who is not a youthful offender but is housed in a youthful offender facility due to age at the time of the crime and admission to prison is considered a young adult offender.

Juvenile inmates often commit person and property crimes, and technical probation violations.
A growing number of juveniles in custody are female.
75% of juveniles in custody for violent offenses are minorities.
Juvenile inmates often exhibit impulsive and unpredictable behavior, lack responsibility, and are defiant of authority.
They tend to join gangs and are susceptible to peer pressure.
Many come from homes with a history of abuse and criminal activity.
They often lack positive adult role models.
Juvenile inmates may have learning disabilities and limited education.
They may exhibit increased sexual curiosity and engage in lewd behavior.
Juvenile inmates often lack a moral compass and depersonalize others.
They can be insensitive, lack remorse, and fail to recognize their behavior as criminal.

Juvenile inmates often test new officers for weakness and vulnerabilities.
It's important for officers to understand and enforce policies, demonstrating competence.
Juvenile inmates require frequent discipline for behavior correction and are more likely to be in confinement than adult inmates.
Major infractions include fighting, battery, gang activity, rioting, arson, theft, and lewd behavior.
Minor infractions include unmade bunks, improper dress, and lack of ID.

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act sets standards for juvenile justice systems.
Juveniles who commit status offenses cannot be held in secure detention but may receive community services.
Juveniles cannot be detained in adult jails except for limited periods.
When in adult jails, juveniles must be separated from adult inmates by sight and sound.
Juveniles cannot be housed with or next to adult inmates.
States and localities must address disproportionate minority contact (DMC).
Florida law requires separation of juveniles and adults with no more than random or accidental contact.
Facilities must have separate sections for juveniles with adequate staff for supervision.
Juveniles must be checked on every ten minutes.
Juveniles can share cells with other juveniles but never with adults.

Juvenile inmates are required to participate in extended day programs including work assignments, education, substance abuse programs, counseling, behavior modification, and military-style drills.
They are also required to participate in vocational and job training, life skills training, and pre-release orientation.
Juvenile inmates should receive suitable transition services.
They are entitled to nutritious meals meeting the requirements of the National Child Nutrition Program.