Title: Community Courts

Summary: Authorizes community court programs; provides program criteria; provides for program advisory committees; requires data reporting; requires support from specified agencies; specifies funding requirements.

Full Text:
An act relating to community courts; creating s. 948.081, F.S.; authorizing the establishment of community court programs; providing program criteria; providing that such programs are voluntary; providing for appointment of a resource coordinator; providing for program advisory committees; requiring data reporting; requiring support from specified agencies; specifying funding requirements; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Section 948.081, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 948.081 Community court programs.-(1) Each judicial circuit may establish a community court program fo rdefendants charged with certain misdemeanor offenses. Each community court shall, at a minimum: (a) Adopt a nonadversarial approach. (b) Establish an advisory committee to recommend solutions and sanctions in each case. (c) Provide for judicial lea dership and interaction. (d) In each particular case, consider the needs of the victim, consider individualized treatment services for the HB 2019 defendant, and monitor the defendant's compliance. (2) The chief judge of the judicial circuit shall, by administ rative order, specify each misdemeanor offense eligible for the community court program. In making such determination, the chief judge shall consider the particular needs and concerns of the communities within the judicial circuit. (3) A defendant's entr yinto any community court program shall be voluntary. (4) The chief judge shall appoint a community court resource coordinator, who shall: (a) Coordinate the responsibilities of the participating agencies and service providers. (b) Provide case mana gement services. (c) Monitor compliance by defendants with court requirements. (d) Manage the collection of data for program evaluation and accountability. (5) The chief judge of the judicial circuit shall appoint members to an advisory committee for each community court. The members of the advisory committee must include, at a minimum: (a) The chief judge or a community court judge designated by the chief judge, who shall serve as chair. (b) The state attorney or his or her designee. (c) The public defender or his or her designee. (d) The community court resource coordinator. HB 2019 The committee may also include community stakeholders, treatment representatives, and other persons the chair deems appropriate. (6) The advisory committee shall rev iew each defendant's case. Each committee member may make recommendations to the judge, including appropriate sanctions and treatment solutions for the defendant. The judge shall consider such recommendations and make the final decision concerning sanction sand treatment with respect to each defendant. (7) Each judicial circuit shall report client-level and programmatic data to the Office of State Courts Administrator annually for program evaluation. Client-level data include primary offenses resulting in the community court referral or sentence, treatment compliance, completion status, reasons for failing to complete the program, offenses committed during treatment and sanctions imposed, frequency of court appearances, and units of service. Programmatic data include referral and screening procedures, eligibility criteria, type and duration of treatment offered, and residential treatment resources. (8) The Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Health, Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Education, law enforcement agencies, and other government entities involved in the criminal justice system shall support such community court programs. (9) Community court program funding must be secured from HB 2019 sources other than the state for costs not assumed by the state under s. 29.004. However, this subsection does not preclude the use of funds provided for treatment and other services through state executive branch agencies. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 019.