Juvenile Justice System Overview

Study Notes

Juvenile Adjudication refers to the court process where a juvenile under 18 is charged, sentenced, and committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Juvenile Inmate is an individual under 18 who is incarcerated in the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Youthful Offender is an individual under 24 who is sentenced as an adult or assigned youthful offender status by the Department of Corrections.

A juvenile can be remanded to the Department of Corrections as a youthful offender in four ways:
- Court declaration: When the sentence is less than six years, the offender was under 21 when sentenced for offenses committed after October 1, 2008, and has not been previously classified as a youthful offender.
- Department of Corrections Designation: When the total prison sentence is less than 10 years, the offender is under 24, and has not been previously classified as a youthful offender.
- Department of Corrections Declaration: When the offender doesn't qualify for other categories but is housed in a youthful offender facility due to mental or physical vulnerability.
- Young Adult Offender: When the offender is not a youthful offender but housed in a youthful offender facility based on age at the time of the crime and prison admission.

Common Crimes: Person and property crimes, technical probation violations.
Demographic Trends: Females represent a growing percentage of juvenile detainees, and minorities account for 75% of those held for violent offenses.
Behavioral Tendencies:
- Impulsive and unpredictable
- Act before thinking about consequences
- Difficulty accepting responsibility
- Oppositional, defiant, resentful of authority
- Gang involvement for identity and safety
- Vulnerable to peer pressure and manipulation
- Lack of positive adult role models
- Limited education, but may have street smarts
- Potential for learning disabilities, affecting behavior
- Increased sexual curiosity and lewd behavior
- Lack of morality
- Depersonalization of others
- Insensitivity, lacking regret for actions
- View behavior as non-criminal or antisocial

Testing Boundaries: Juvenile inmates frequently test new officers, seeking weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
Enforcement: Officers need to understand and enforce policies and procedures to appear competent.
Frequent Discipline: Juveniles often require frequent discipline for inappropriate behavior, leading to more frequent confinement compared to adults.
Major Infractions: Fighting, battery, gang activity, rioting, arson, theft, lewd behavior
Minor Infractions: Unmade bunks, missing ID, dress code violations

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act: Sets standards for juvenile justice systems.
Prohibition on Status Offenses: Juveniles committing status offenses (truancy, runaway, curfew violation, alcohol use) cannot be confined and must receive community-based services.
Adult Jail Restrictions: Juveniles cannot be detained in adult jails except for short periods before release or transport (6 hours), in rural areas (24 hours plus weekends/holidays), or due to weather/travel conditions.
Separation Requirements: No sight or sound contact between juveniles and adults in jails.
Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC): States and localities must develop plans to address fairness and reduce racial/ethnic disparities in juvenile justice.
Florida Statute 985.265: Juveniles are housed separately from adults to prevent contact.
Supervision: Facility staff must provide documented supervision checks at intervals of no longer than 10 minutes.
Cell Restrictions: Juveniles can be in the same cell, but never with adults.

Required Programs:
- Extended day program: Work assignments, education (academic and vocational), substance abuse programs, counseling, behavior modification, military-style drills, discipline, and programs to reduce idleness and improve re-entry.
- Vocational and job training
- Life and socialization skills training (anger/aggression control)
- Pre-release orientation and planning
- Transition services
Other Programs and Services:
- Nutritional adequate menus meeting National Child Nutrition Program requirements.

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