Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Dale V.C. Holness
Department: County Commission
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2021-311, the title of which is as follows: (Commissioner Holness)
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, URGING ALL MUNICIPALITIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN BROWARD COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BROWARD COUNTY JUVENILE CIVIL CITATION PROGRAM; AUTHORIZING TRANSMISSION OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS DESIGNATED HEREIN; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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Why Action is Necessary
Formal Board approval is necessary for the adoption of a Resolution.
What Action Accomplishes
Enables the adoption of the above Resolution.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
The Florida Legislature passed legislation establishing a civil citation or similar prearrest diversion program for misdemeanor offenses in each judicial circuit in the State of Florida (“Civil Citation Program”). The Civil Citation Program was developed to provide a statewide civil alternative to the formal arrest and criminal prosecution of youth aged 17 or younger who commit eligible misdemeanor offenses.
Since 2012, Broward County has operated the Broward County Juvenile Civil Citation Program, its Civil Citation Program, which has served over 5,500 youths at no cost to participants. The Broward County Juvenile Civil Citation Program has a 90% success rate and a less than 3% recidivism rate.
Broward County has been identified as the third-worst county in the State of Florida for issuing juvenile civil citations under its Civil Citation Program due to lack of utilization. The utilization rate in Broward County is approximately 42%. In contrast, Miami-Dade County has a utilization rate of 90% for its Civil Citation Program.
Participation in the Broward County Juvenile Civil Citation Program by Broward County and all municipalities and all law enforcement agencies in Broward County will ensure that youth throughout Broward County will have access to a Civil Citation Program. Greater participation in the program will increase public safety for Broward County citizens and positively affect the criminal justice system by providing an efficient and innovative alternative to arresting youth, reducing the number of youths in jails and the rate of recidivism, and conserving scarce judicial resources.
Source of Additional Information
Heidi Richards, Chief of Staff, District 9, 954-357-7009
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
None.