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Miami-Dade County, Florida Juvenile Justice Model

NCJ Number
225578
Author(s)
Wansley Walters
Date Published
2008
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This paper offers an overview of the successful Miami-Dade County, Florida Juvenile Justice Model as presented at the International Juvenile Justice Observatory International Conference in Valencia, Spain in 2008.
Abstract
The Miami-Dade County, Florida Juvenile Services Department (JSD) headed the effort to reform a dysfunctional system and create an evidence-based, community supported juvenile justice model. In 10 years, juvenile arrests have decreased by 41 percent, re-offending declined 78 percent, and the detention population dropped 66 percent. Since opening, over $50 million in system savings have been generated through efficiencies. In 2008, an economic study concluded that the reformed juvenile justice system saves the community over $30 million each year. These impressive results have been achieved through a collaborative effort of juvenile justice partners and national researchers who have assisted in the development of a benchmark continuum of care including five innovative, targeted, and customized diversion programs. By utilizing a variety of gender and age specific evidence-based screening and assessment tools, Miami-Dade County has achieved a system that allows the county to organize and manage the population allowing the juvenile and his/her family to be treated as individuals. Also, troubled youth now have the opportunity to attain complete treatment services outside of the systems that currently exist without shame of a criminal record with the implementation of the Civil Citation Initiative. In 2008, the Miami-Dade County Juvenile Justice Model was recognized as a national model by the White House, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Charts and figures