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Adjudicate |
To hear and decide a case; to judge. An adjudicated delinquent is a
youth who has been found guilty by a judge of committing a delinquent
act. The court can commit an adjudicated juvenile or place the juvenile
on community control. top
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Adjudicatory Hearing |
Hearing for the Court to determine whether the facts support the
allegation(s) stated in the Petition for Delinquency. The standard of
proof is the same as in a criminal trial - beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Adjudication Withheld |
A order is entered by the court finding that the youth committed a
delinquent act or violation of law, but adjudication of delinquency is
withheld. The court may place the child on community control or other
similar community program. top
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Arrest |
An arrest is made when a law enforcement officer charges an adult with a
criminal act, or violation of law and takes the adult into custody based
on probable cause. A juvenile is not "arrested", but "taken into
custody" under the identical circumstances.
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Case |
A case is determined by selecting the most serious offense committed by
an individual youth on a specific date. Thus, the number of cases in the
juvenile justice system is determined by counting only the most serious
offense for which a youth is charged on any specific date; if the youth
is referred for several offenses on the same date, this is considered
one case and offenses committed by the same youth on another date
are considered another case. top
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Child |
See
JUVENILE.
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Commitment |
The child is committed to DJJ at a restrictiveness level defined by
statute for the purpose of exercising active control of the child.
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Commitment Program |
Rehabilitation program for delinquent juveniles, ranging from the least
restrictive to the most restrictive. Higher restrictiveness levels
compare to incarceration within the adult system, but with
rehabilitative components. top
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Community Control |
The legal status of probation created by law and court order in cases
involving a juvenile who has been found to have committed a delinquent
act. Similar to adult probation; it includes the supervision of
juveniles by a case manager. top
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Delinquent Act |
Any action taken by a juvenile under the age of eighteen years, who has
not been previously transferred to adult criminal court and sentenced as
an adult for a felony that would be a violation of law or ordinance if
committed by an adult. top
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Delinquent Youth |
A juvenile who has been found to have committed a delinquent act
(equivalent of being found guilty of a criminal offense) by a judge. The
juvenile may be adjudicated delinquent or adjudication may be withheld
by the court. top
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Department of
Juvenile Justice |
The department (DJJ) is responsible for all juvenile justice services
and programs including: prevention; Children-In-Need-of-Services (CINS);
Families-In-Need-of-Services (FINS); early intervention and diversion;
case management; detention care; community-based commitment programs;
juvenile justice institutions and facilities; and aftercare programs.
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Detention Care |
The temporary care of a juvenile in secure, non-secure or home
detention, pending a court adjudication or disposition or execution of a
court order. top
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Detention
Center |
Facilities statewide, used primarily as a pre-disposition holding
facility for serious offenders. By law, offenders may be held twenty-one
days prior to their adjudicatory hearing and up to fifteen days
following an order of adjudication. A juvenile may be held up to fifteen
days following the disposition of the case, pending residential
placement if the department has reason to believe that placement will be
available within the fifteen daytime period. High risk and maximum risk
offenders are held until placement in a commitment program. Detention is
NOT a commitment program, and compares to a jail in the adult system.
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DJJ |
See
DEPARTMENT
OF JUVENILE JUSTICE.
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Diversion/ Alternative to Court |
A program designed to divert or keep a juvenile from entering the system
and as an alternative to court; used at intake prior to adjudication.
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Intake |
Initial acceptance and screening of the child by
DJJ. The emphasis of
intake is on diversion and the least restrictive available services.
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Intervention |
Programs or services that interrupt the delinquency process and prevent
a youth from penetrating further into the juvenile justice system.
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JAC |
See
JUVENILE
ASSESSMENT CENTER.
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JDC |
See
JUVENILE
DETENTION CENTER.
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Juvenile Probation Officer
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Juvenile |
Any unmarried person under the age of eighteen alleged to be dependent,
in need of services, or from a family in need of services, or any
married or unmarried person who is charged with a violation of law
occurring prior to the time that person reached the age of eighteen
years.
NOTE:
The juvenile court has jurisdiction in delinquency cases until the
youth's nineteenth birthday, or until the youth/adult completes
restitution payment as ordered by the juvenile court.
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Juvenile
Assessment Center |
The
JAC is a facility
where a juvenile is first taken by police upon arrest. The JAC collects
information about the juvenile and arranges for the juvenile's parents or
guardians to take the youth home. If the the charge is more serious
the JAC arranges for the youth to be transported to the Juvenile Detention
Center (JDC) to await a Court hearing within 24 hours.
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Juvenile
Detention Center |
The JDC a secure or "lock down" facility for holding juveniles who have been ordered there by the
court to await a court hearing or placement in another facility.
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Juvenile Found to Have Committed a Delinquent Act |
A juvenile who, pursuant to Chapter 985, F.S., is found by a court to
have committed a violation of law or to be in direct or indirect
contempt of court, except that this definition shall not include an act
constituting contempt of court arising out of a dependency (child abuse,
neglect or abandonment) proceeding or a proceeding pursuant to CINS/FINS
Chapter 984, F.S. top
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Juvenile Justice
Detention |
Youth
arrested by law enforcement are evaluated immediately by the Florida
Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to determine if they should be
detained under lock and key to protect the public. Detention screening
is performed at Juvenile Assessment Centers or by juvenile probation
staff using a standardized Detention Risk Assessment Instrument.
Juvenile
detention in Florida is a short-term program. Juvenile offenders who
require long-term sanctions and rehabilitation are placed into
non-residential or residential correctional programs.
Two types
of detention are available: secure detention and home detention.
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Operation PAR |
Since 1970, Operation PAR as been delivering comprehensive behavioral
health care services to families in West Central Florida. JARF is one of
the services provided by Operation PAR.
Call (727)524-4497 or toll-free 1 888 PAR-NEXT. Click here
for more information about PAR. top
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Outcome |
The status of a juvenile in relation to delinquent behavior after
completion of a program or services, and the extent of the change in
modifying the original conditions that led to the juvenile being
referred for services. top
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Outcome Evaluation |
A comprehensive means of assessing the extent of change in the situation
of a juvenile offender; a juvenile-in-need-of-services, and, where
appropriate, their families; the effect of DJJ activities on the youth’s
behaviors; and the cost of those changes.
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PAR |
See
OPERATION
PAR.
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Parental Awareness and Responsibility |
See
OPERATION
PAR. |
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Prevention |
All prevention efforts are an investment in public safety and are those
efforts that help prevent a juvenile from entering the juvenile justice
system as a delinquent. Prevention includes arbitration, diversionary or
mediation programs, and community service work or other treatment
available subsequent to a child committing a delinquent act (985.03
(15)(c), F.S.). top
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Process Evaluation |
A process evaluation examines specific components of a program to
describe its operations, intentions and internal relationships. Rather
than concentrating on the outcomes or results obtained, process
evaluations focus on program monitoring and efficiency of services.
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QA |
See
QUALITY
ASSURANCE.
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Quality Assurance |
QA - a legislatively mandated program whereby each state-operated or
contractor-operated program must be evaluated based on standard
criteria. top
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Quality Assurance Ratings |
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Special Deemed Status - awarded to programs which achieve a
performance rating above 80% and are rated in compliance (90% or above
on the compliance rating scale) during their annual review.
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Deemed Status - awarded to programs which achieve a performance rating
between 70-79% inclusive and are rated in compliance (90% or above on
the compliance rating scale) during their annual review.
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Superior - programs that exceed all aspects of a key indicator with
either an innovative, creative approach or a program-wide dedication
to exceptional performance that is readily apparent.
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Satisfactory or Marginal - programs that meet all or most of the
expectations of the department.
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Poor or Below Satisfactory - programs that do not meet established
minimum thresholds of quality as required by Chapter 985.412, F.S.
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Referred To DJJ |
As used in the juvenile justice system, a youth is referred to the
department based on an allegation of a criminal law violation as listed
in the Client Information System. top
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Sanction |
The penalty for noncompliance specified in a law or decree; a penalty
that acts to ensure compliance or conformity. top
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Serious or Habitual Juvenile Offender SHO, SHOP or SHJO |
A juvenile who has been found to have committed a violation of law, in
the case currently before the court, and who meets at least one of the
following criteria:
- The
juvenile is at least 13 years old at the time of the disposition for
the current offense and has been adjudicated on the current offense
for arson, sexual battery, robbery, kidnapping, aggravated child
abuse, aggravated assault, aggravated stalking, murder, manslaughter,
unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a destructive device or
bomb, armed burglary, aggravated battery, lewd or lascivious assault
or act in the presence of a child, carrying, displaying, using,
threatening, or attempting to use a weapon or firearm during the
commission of a felony.
- The
juvenile is at least 13 years old at the time of the disposition, the
current offense is a felony, and the child has previously been
committed at least two times to a delinquency commitment program.
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The juvenile is at least 13 years old and is currently committed for a
felony offense and transferred from a moderate risk or high risk
residential commitment placement. top
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Status Offenders |
Status offenders are defined as juveniles, who have been accused of, or
charged with, conduct which would not, under law, be an offense if
committed by an adult such as truancy, running away or underage
drinking. top
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Taken into Custody |
The status of a juvenile when temporary physical control over the child
is attained by a person authorized by law, pending the juvenile's
release, detention, placement, or other disposition as authorized by
law. This is similar to an adult arrest. top
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Youth |
See
JUVENILE.
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