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

DJJ Has Reallocated Beds to Better Meet Needs and Improved Placement Processes

Report 06-74, December 2006




Report Summary

  • The Legislature and the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) have implemented our recommendations to reduce beds in high vacancy programs and transfers of youth among residential commitment programs. The Legislature eliminated 89 low-risk beds that did not include treatment services and replaced boot camps with the Sheriff's Respect and Training (STAR) Program. Legislative proviso also gave the department authority to reduce the number of beds in programs without specialized services and to contract for these services when the department determines that there is a need. The department has used this authority to restructure several contracts to provide needed treatment services; to fully address this issue it should continue to close high vacancy beds and add services for which there are long waiting lists.
  • DJJ has implemented our recommendation to reduce commitment costs by reducing transfers of youth among programs. The department has made several policy changes including improving youth assessment and placement, creating more beds with treatment services, and establishing more stringent criteria for transfers. As these changes have been implemented, the number of transfers has decreased by 35%.


Related Reports
  1. More Youth Are Admitted for Less Serious Offenses, in Part to Meet Treatment Needs
    Report 03-76 December 2003
  2. Juvenile Bed Tracking System Improves; Bed Vacancy Rates High for Some Programs
    Report 03-74 December 2003
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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