CS for SB 192 - Juvenile Justice Summary

• Creates exception to civil rights suspension for children convicted as adults, allowing restoration of civil rights upon full pardon or conditional pardon under s. 944.292.

• Eliminates mandatory transfer requirements for children to adult court and revises discretionary waiver factors, requiring courts to consider seriousness of offense, sophistication/maturity of child, and rehabilitation prospects under s. 985.556.

• Restricts direct file prosecution authority for children ages 14-15 to specific serious crimes and requires state attorneys to document in writing the reasons for prosecuting or not prosecuting children as adults, filing documentation with the court.

• Allows children transferred to adult court to request a hearing to determine whether they should remain in adult court, and prohibits transfer of children found incompetent until competency is restored.

• Requires Department of Juvenile Justice to collect detailed data on children eligible for adult prosecution beginning March 1, 2018, and work with Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to generate annual reports to the Governor and Legislature.