FL S1300

Department of Juvenile Justice must encourage and assist in implementing and improving civil citation and diversion programs statewide, which shall be established locally with concurrence of the chief judge, state attorney, public defender, and law enforcement heads.

Program may be operated by a law enforcement agency, the Department of Juvenile Justice, a juvenile assessment center, the county or municipality, or another entity selected by the county or municipality, in consultation and agreement with the state attorney and local law enforcement.

Law enforcement officers may issue civil citations to juveniles admitting to misdemeanors and assign up to 50 community service hours plus intervention services based on assessment of the juvenile's needs; eligibility limited to first-time misdemeanor offenders unless state attorney approves otherwise.

Operating agency must report program outcomes to the Department of Juvenile Justice at conclusion of the juvenile's program; issuance of a civil citation is not considered a referral to the department.

Removed requirement to send citation copies to victims; juveniles who fail to comply with the civil citation program requirements shall have the original delinquent act processed as a referral and report referred to the state attorney for review.