Fla. Stat. § 985.12 — Florida Code / Title XLVII / Chapter 985 / Part III / Section 985.12
985.12 Prearrest delinquency citation programs.
Status: in_force

(1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT. — The Legislature finds that the creation and implementation of any prearrest delinquency citation programs at the judicial circuit level promotes public safety, aids interagency cooperation, and provides the greatest chance of success for prearrest delinquency citation programs. The Legislature further finds that the widespread use of prearrest delinquency citation programs has a positive effect on the criminal justice system by immediately holding youth accountable for their actions and contributes to an overall reduction in the crime rate and recidivism in the state. The Legislature encourages but does not mandate that counties, municipalities, and public or private educational institutions participate in a prearrest delinquency citation program created by their judicial circuit under this section.

(2) JUDICIAL CIRCUIT DELINQUENCY CITATION PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND OPERATION. — (a) A prearrest delinquency citation program for misdemeanor offenses shall be established in each judicial circuit in the state. The state attorney and public defender of each circuit, the clerk of the court for each county in the circuit, and representatives of participating law enforcement agencies in the circuit shall create a prearrest delinquency citation program and develop its policies and procedures. In developing the program’s policies and procedures, input from other interested stakeholders may be solicited. (b) Each judicial circuit’s prearrest delinquency citation program must specify all of the following: 1. The misdemeanor offenses that qualify a juvenile for participation in the program. Offenses involving the use or possession of a firearm do not qualify for a prearrest delinquency citation program. 2. The eligibility criteria for the program. 3. The program’s implementation and operation. 4. The program’s requirements, including, but not limited to, the completion of community service hours; payment of restitution, if applicable; classes established by the department or the prearrest delinquency citation program; and intervention services indicated by a needs assessment of the juvenile, approved by the department, such as family counseling, urinalysis monitoring, and substance abuse and mental health treatment services. 5. A program fee, if any, to be paid by a juvenile participating in the program. If the program imposes a fee, the clerk of the court of the applicable county must receive a reasonable portion of the fee. (c) The state attorney of each circuit shall operate a prearrest delinquency citation program in each circuit. A sheriff, police department, county, municipality, locally authorized entity, or public or private educational institution may operate an independent prearrest delinquency citation program if the independent program is reviewed by the state attorney of the applicable circuit and he or she determines that the independent program is substantially similar to the prearrest delinquency citation program developed by the circuit. If the state attorney determines that the independent program is not substantially similar to the prearrest delinquency citation program developed by the circuit, the operator of the independent program may revise the program and the state attorney may conduct an additional review of the independent program. A civil citation or similar prearrest diversion program existing before July 1, 2024, shall be deemed a delinquency citation program authorized by this section if the civil citation or similar prearrest diversion program has been approved by the state attorney of the circuit in which it operates and it complies with the requirements in paragraph (b). (d) If a juvenile does not successfully complete the prearrest delinquency citation program, the arresting law enforcement officer shall determine if there is good cause to arrest the juvenile for the original misdemeanor offense and refer the case to the state attorney to determine if prosecution is appropriate or allow the juvenile to continue in the program. (e) Each prearrest delinquency citation program shall enter the appropriate youth data into the Juvenile Justice Information System Prevention Web within 7 days after the admission of the youth into the program. (f) At the conclusion of a juvenile’s prearrest delinquency citation program, the state attorney or operator of the independent program shall report the outcome to the department. The issuance of a prearrest delinquency citation program notice is not considered a referral to the department. (g) Upon issuing a prearrest delinquency citation program notice, the law enforcement officer shall send a copy of the prearrest delinquency citation program notice to the parent or guardian of the child and to the victim.

History: s. 5, ch. 90-208; s. 1, ch. 92-20; s. 23, ch. 94-209; s. 45, ch. 97-238; s. 19, ch. 98-207; s. 19, ch. 2006-120; s. 1, ch. 2011-124; s. 1, ch. 2015-46; s. 9, ch. 2018-127; s. 73, ch. 2019-167; s. 5, ch. 2024-130; s. 35, ch. 2025-153.