Florida Administrative Code › 63 - DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE › 63D - Probation › Chapter 63D-13 - PROBATION AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS › Section 63D-13.002 - Assessment of Youth

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
The assessment of youth is a critical component of the case
				 management system. The information gathered in this process is obtained through
				 a detention screening, intake screening, initial mental health and substance
				 abuse needs screening, comprehensive assessment, and comprehensive evaluation
				 of the youth. Assessment information forms the foundation for recommendations
				 to the court regarding a youth's treatment plan and allows the department to
				 provide the most appropriate services in the least intrusive manner.
(1) While the needs, strengths and history of
				the individual youth will determine the how, what, when and where of
				assessment, the process typically tracks the following sequence:
(a) Detention screening is completed
				following the arrest and delivery of the youth to the department. The critical
				component of detention screening is the Detention Screening Instrument (DSI).
				The DSI is used to determine if a youth should be placed in detention care
				prior to a detention hearing.
(b)
				When a youth is delivered to the department for detention screening, the
				screener shall also conduct an initial mental health and substance abuse
				screening. This screening is initiated through a process which includes
				administration of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument - 2 (MAYSI-2),
				and administration of the Suicide Risk Screening Instrument (SRSI), a form that
				documents the standardized questions asked by trained, designated staff upon a
				youth's intake into the juvenile justice system, and upon admission to a
				detention center, to identify suicide risk factors and the need for referral
				for assessment of suicide risk as well as a review of any other documentation
				of suicide risk factors that are available at the time of screening.
(c) The results of the initial mental health
				and substance abuse screening may require a referral for a more detailed
				assessment called a comprehensive assessment. This assessment is the gathering
				of information used to assess for biological, psychological and social factors
				as they relate to the youth's need for rehabilitative and treatment services,
				including substance abuse treatment services, literacy services, medical
				services, family services, and other specialized services, as
				appropriate.
(d) After determining
				whether the youth being delivered to the department meets detention criteria,
				and after the initial mental health and substance abuse screening is completed,
				the intake process is initiated. The intake process is an analysis of the facts
				that resulted in the youth being delivered to the department. A summary of
				those facts will be included in the State Attorney Recommendation (SAR) and the
				Pre/Post-Disposition Report (PDR). The former is the tool used to inform the
				state attorney what the department's suggestion is as to how to proceed with
				the case. The latter is a resource used by the court to determine a disposition
				for the youth's case once he or she enters a plea or is found guilty of an
				offense.
(e) For youth whom a
				residential commitment disposition is anticipated, a detailed assessment called
				a comprehensive evaluation will be required. The comprehensive evaluation
				includes the gathering of information which addresses physical health, mental
				health, substance abuse, academic, educational, or vocational problems of a
				youth for whom a residential commitment disposition is anticipated, which is
				summarized in the youth's PDR.