Juvenile Civil Citation Program (JCCP)
Program Description
Juvenile civil citations are an alternative to formal arrest and criminal prosecution for juveniles accused of minor misdemeanor offenses with no aggravating factors.
Florida Statute 901.41 gives law enforcement agencies the sole discretion on whether to issue a juvenile civil citation or arrest an individual. If a civil citation is issued, the State Attorney’s Office will review the case and make the final determination on a juvenile’s eligibility to participate in the Juvenile Civil Citation Program (JCCP).
Requirements of the JCCP are individualized to meet the needs of the offender. Possible sanctions include, but are not limited to:
- Community service
- Restitution
- Drug evaluation and treatment
- Community Assessment Tool assessment
- Behavior and/or mental health assessment and any follow-up treatment
- A 500-word essay
- Random urinalysis
- Life skills class
- Curfew
- Jury duty with Teen Court
- Florida Bright Future Scholarship Education
- Financial literacy
- Job training
- Mentoring
- Literacy assessment/tutoring
Successful completion of the JCCP will result in the State closing and dismissing the case.
A juvenile must be referred to the program by a participating law enforcement agency and approved to enter the program by the State Attorney’s Office.
The offender must also meet the following criteria:
- Commit an eligible misdemeanor with no aggravating factors
- Be under 18 years old at the time of the offense
- Have no prior adjudications of delinquency for a felony
- Offender and parent/guardian must waive speedy trial
- Be cooperative with law enforcement by providing pertinent information for identification purposes and completion of the civil citation including:
- Name
- Race
- Sex
- Date of birth
- Address
- Fingerprints
- Parent or guardian contact information
If the offender’s parent or guardian refuses to allow the offender to participate in the program, the offender can still enter the program if they can complete the terms and conditions.
Many misdemeanors with no aggravating factors are eligible for the juvenile civil citation program.
- Misdemeanor involving any firearm charge
- Misdemeanor involving exposure of sexual organs or other sexually related behavior, i.e., lewd and lascivious behavior
- Misdemeanor that law enforcement discerns is directly related to, or part of gang activity
- Misdemeanor in which the offender conspired with other defendants with the purpose of committing, or attempting to commit, any felony
- Animal Cruelty
- Misdemeanor criminal traffic offense for:
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident
- Racing
- Reckless Driving
- Reckless Driving Alcohol-Related
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Florida Statute 901.41 gives law enforcement agencies the sole discretion on whether to issue a juvenile civil citation or arrest an individual.
If the investigating law enforcement agency issues a juvenile civil citation, it will be sent to the State Attorney’s Office where a determination will be made on whether the offender is eligible to enter the civil citation or other pre-arrest diversion programs.
The juvenile’s parent or legal guardian must contact the Office of the Court Administrator at 407-836-8900 within seven (7) business days of receiving the civil citation.
If the juvenile is approved to enter the JCCP, the program administrator will contact the offender and parent/guardian to review and sign the civil citation program contract.
If the State Attorney’s Office finds the juvenile is not eligible for the JCCP, the State will review the case and make an appropriate filing decision.
Disqualifying factors include:
- The offender having three prior civil citations
- Offender is unable or unwilling to complete the terms and conditions of the program
- The offense committed is a misdemeanor with aggravating circumstances
- Offender is currently on juvenile probation, home confinement or Juvenile Diversion Alternative Program
- Offender was 18 years or older at the time of the offense
By successfully completing the sanctions imposed by the civil citation provider, you will not be required to appear before a judge or answer to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice for the offense.
The State Attorney’s Office will send the case to Court Administration which uses Teen Court and Neighborhood Restorative Justice to oversee and provide educational courses, counseling, substance abuse and mental health treatment services and urinalysis monitoring, as appropriate.
The juvenile’s parent or legal guardian must contact the Office of the Court Administrator at 407-836-8900 within seven (7) business days of receiving the civil citation.
Successful completion of the JCCP will result in the State closing the case in the Juvenile Justice Information System Prevention Website.
If the offender fails to complete the program, the case will be referred back to the State Attorney’s Office and the State will decide if a petition for the original misdemeanor charge(s) is appropriate.
If the offender is not compliant with the requirements of the civil citation or other pre-arrest diversion program, the case will be referred back to the State Attorney’s Office and the State will decide if a petition for the original misdemeanor charge(s) is appropriate.
If the offender is charged with new and/or additional criminal charges by law enforcement, the State Attorney’s Office will determine if the offender may remain in the program or if a petition for the original misdemeanor charge(s) is appropriate.
