Juvenile Inmates & Youthful Offenders PDF

Unit 5 Juvenile Inmates and Youthful Offenders Lesson 1 Juvenile Inmates and Youthful Offenders Lesson Goal You will be able to monitor juvenile inmates and youthful offenders. Think About This Being a teenager comes with its own challenges. Add involvement with the criminal justice system, an...

Unit 5 Juvenile Inmates and Youthful Offenders Lesson 1 Juvenile Inmates and Youthful Offenders Lesson Goal You will be able to monitor juvenile inmates and youthful offenders. Think About This Being a teenager comes with its own challenges. Add involvement with the criminal justice system, and you have a unique set of constraints, legal obligations, and disciplinary issues. Facilities that of- fer quality services and positive experiences can reduce the odds of a juvenile offender re-entering the system and your correctional facility. Being positive, patient, and using good judgment, not impulsive reaction, can provide these juveniles with the positive adult role model they need. Definitions ✅ CO751.1. Know the terms juvenile adjudication, juvenile inmate, and youthful offender Juvenile adjudication occurs when the court charges, sentences, adjudicates as delinquent (includ- ing a plea of nolo contendere), and commits a juvenile younger than 18 to the Department of Juve- nile Justice. A juvenile inmate is an inmate who is not legally an adult, or adjudicated as an adult, that the court assigns to the Department of Juvenile Justice. A youthful offender is any offender younger than 24, who the court sentences as an adult or who the Department of Corrections assigns youthful offender status, according to ss. 958.03 and 958.04, F.S. Sometimes when the court incarcerates an adjudicated juvenile within the juvenile justice system, the placement is unsuccessful or not appropriate for the juvenile’s rehabilitation program. When this happens, the court remands (reassigns) the juvenile to the Department of Corrections as a youthful offender. A juvenile can be remanded to the Department of Corrections as a youthful offender in four ways. Chapter 7 Supervising Special Populations / 229 ✅ CO751.2. Know the different ways a juvenile can be remanded to the Department of Corrections as a youthful offender Declared by the court when: the offender is not sentenced to prison for more than six years the offender was younger than 21 on the date the sentence was imposed for offenses committed on or after October 1, 2008 the offender has not previously been classified as a youthful offender Designated by the Department of Corrections when: the total length of the juvenile’s prison sentence does not exceed 10 years the offender is younger than 24 the offender has not previously been classified as a youthful offender. Declared by the Department of Corrections when: the offender is not otherwise qualified as a youthful offender, but is housed at a youthful offender facility by virtue of their mental or physical vulnerability the offender’s mental or physical vulnerability would significantly jeopardize their safety in a non-youthful offender facility Young adult offender when: the offender is not a youthful offender, but housed at a youthful offender facility by virtue of their age at the time of the crime and the time of admission to prison. Characteristics The courts incarcerate youthful offenders primarily for person and property crimes, and technical violations of probation. Females account for a small yet growing proportion of juveniles held in custody while minority youth account for 75% of juveniles held for a violent offense. ✅ CO751.3. Know the characteristics of a juvenile inmate or youthful offender Juveniles or youthful offenders can also have one or more of the following tendencies: be impulsive and unpredictable act first and think about the consequences later be unable to accept responsibility for their behavior, blaming others for their inappropri- ate behavior 230 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1  be oppositional, defiant, and resentful of authority join gangs in an attempt to find an identity and for personal safety cave to peer pressure, be easily manipulated, and be concerned about what other inmates think about them come from households with a history of abuse and criminal activity or generations of gang members and whose value systems clash with common social norms have few positive adult role models not be a high-school graduate; not have a formal education but have street smarts if diagnosed with learning disabilities, continue to have those challenges, which may also affect their ability to respond appropriately in a variety of situations have a more sexual curiosity issues and an increased incidence of lewd and lascivi- ous behavior have no moral compass depersonalize other inmates, correctional officers, and people on the outside be insensitive, lack regret for what they do, and not see their behavior as antisocial or criminal These young inmates need a structured, predictable environment that is consistent from one shift to another. You can become a positive role model for young inmates, demonstrating professional behavior, and being consistently firm and fair. ✅ CO751.4. Know the disciplinary issues associated with a juvenile inmate or youthful offender Young inmates will constantly test a new officer, looking for weaknesses and vulnerabilities. It is important that officers that are new to the facility understand policies and procedures, enforce them, and appear competent. Juvenile inmates and youthful offenders may need frequent disci- plining to correct inappropriate behavior and are in confinement more often than adult inmates. Major infractions can include fighting, battery, STG activity, rioting, setting fires, theft, and lewd and lascivious behavior. Minor infractions can include an unmade bunk or failure to wear an ID or follow proper dress code. Legal Requirements The federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act sets the standards for state and local juvenile justice systems for incarcerating youth. Chapter 7 Supervising Special Populations / 231 ✅ CO751.5. Know the legal requirements for incarcerating juvenile inmates and youthful offenders The act provides for the following: Juveniles who commit status offenses (skipping school, running away, breaking curfew, and possession or use of alcohol) may not be held in secure detention or confinement, but receive community-based services, such as day treatment or residential home treat- ment, counseling, mentoring, alternative education, and job development support. Juveniles may not be detained in adult jails except for limited periods before release or transporting them to an appropriate juvenile placement (six hours), in rural areas (24 hours plus weekends and holidays), or when weather and travel conditions prevent authorities from transporting them. When adult jails hold juveniles under the exceptions listed above, they may not have any sight or sound contact with adult inmates. Juveniles cannot be housed with adult inmates or next to adult cells, share dining halls, recreation areas, or any other common spaces with adult inmates, or be placed in any circumstances in which they could have any visual or verbal contact with adult inmates. Disproportionate minority contact (DMC) requires states and localities to develop over- sight committees that plan and implement data-driven approaches to ensure fairness and reduce racial and ethnic disparities. According to s. 985.265, F.S., juveniles are housed separately from adult inmates to prohibit sight and sound contact with incarcerated adults. Separation of juveniles from adults permits no more than random or accidental contact. The receiving facility must contain a separate section for juveniles and have adequate staff to supervise and monitor the juvenile’s activities at all times. Supervising and monitoring juveniles includes physical observation and documented checks by facility super- visory staff at intervals of no more than 10 minutes. The facility can place two or more juveniles in the same cell; however, under no circumstances will a juvenile and an adult be in the same cell. Services and Programs ✅ CO751.6. List the types of required programs and other programs and services available to juvenile inmates and youthful offenders Juvenile inmates or youthful offenders are required to participate in: an extended day program providing work assignments, educational (academic and voca- tional) programs, substance misuse programs, counseling, behavior modification, military- style drills, systematic discipline, and other programs that reduce inmate idleness and improve a young offender’s chance of becoming a law-abiding resident upon re-entry into the community vocational and job training 232 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1  life and socialization skills training (including anger/aggression control) pre-release orientation and planning suitable transition services Juvenile inmates or youthful offenders qualify for a nutritionally adequate menu that provides uniformity of food items and meets the requirements of the National Child Nutrition Program. Chapter 7 Supervising Special Populations / 233