Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

More Youth Are Admitted for Less Serious Offenses, in Part to Meet Treatment Needs

Report 03-76, December 2003




Report Summary

  • Admissions to residential juvenile justice commitment have leveled off during recent years. While most youth are committed for felonies, 40% are committed for misdemeanors and non-law violations of probation.
  • This occurs in part because treatment resources are concentrated in the department's residential commitment programs. Delinquency judges report that youth sometimes are committed in order to obtain needed treatment. Of youth in residential commitment programs, 76% are being treated for diagnosed mental health needs and 48% are being treated for diagnosed substance abuse needs.
  • The department proposes to divert appropriate non-law violators to a Re-direction Program for treatment. We endorse the treatment concept but propose an alternative that would allow the comparison of results and provide an additional $1 million in cost savings.
  • Approximately 29% of the department's special needs residential programs received low quality assurance ratings for mental health and substance abuse. The department should make performance on this standard a critical indicator for programs providing specialized mental health and substance abuse services.


Related Reports
  1. Redirection Saves $51.2 Million and Continues to Reduce Recidivism
    Report 10-38 April 2010
  2. Redirection Saves $36.4 Million and Avoids $5.2 Million in Recommitment and Prison Costs
    Report 09-27 May 2009
  3. Redirection Pilots Meet and Exceed Residential Commitment Outcomes; $5.8 Million Saved
    Report 07-10 February 2007
  4. DJJ Has Reallocated Beds to Better Meet Needs and Improved Placement Processes
    Report 06-74 December 2006
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
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