Prevented Juvenile Crime

n 1994, Governor Lawton Chiles and the Legislature created a separate Department of Juvenile Justice to focus attention on the skyrocketing violent juvenile crime and ensure there were enough places to lock up and effectively treat dangerous juveniles.

Today, because of the Chiles/MacKay focus on prevention, incarceration and detention, key juvenile crime trends are headed downward. Between 1993 and 1998, juvenile murder cases dropped by almost half, down 42 percent; attempted murder cases fell 49 percent; auto theft dropped 32 percent; armed robbery fell 24 percent; and burglary was cut by 13 percent. In the year ending June 1998, overall juvenile crime decreased 1 percent, compared to an 11 percent annual increase when the department was created in 1994. This comes in the midst of a teen population boom in Florida, with an 18 percent increase predicted for 12- to 14-year-olds during the decade leading up to the year 2005 and a 26 percent jump in 15- to 17-year-olds.

Swift, sure and appropriate sanctions for juvenile delinquents, especially serious habitual offenders, have been a top priority of the agency. To treat and house juvenile offenders and to protect public safety, the number of beds and slots in Florida escalated from about 4,500 in 1994 to 8,868 in 1998. Lengths of stay in delinquency programs rose. New reforms include maximum security programs where hardened juvenile offenders stay 18 to 36 months under strict restrictions but also can compete their high school education.

Florida's juvenile justice budget included significant spending increases on community-based prevention and early intervention programs — a critical part of the department's "balanced approach." Florida's juvenile justice boards and councils worked to forge local action plans and target grants and resources for their own unique local needs.

The Florida Business Partners for Prevention fosters the involvement of businesses in mentoring youth and recognizes the best examples every year with the Governor's Community Investment Awards. The vast majority of juveniles in delinquency commitment programs in Florida have never had a job.

The department also recruited more than 700 faith-based organizations to take part in the Faith Community Network. The network, a voluntary referral network and a first for any state, worked with at-risk and delinquent youth.

Because of a rise in delinquency cases involving girls, the Chiles/MacKay administration established the Listen to Girls initiative aimed at providing the right services to deal with the real-life issues of today's adolescent girls, while raising community awareness of the need for positive female role models and programs.


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	n 1994, Governor Lawton Chiles and the Legislature created a separate Department of Juvenile Justice to focus attention on the skyrocketing violent juvenile crime and ensure there were enough places to lock up and effectively treat dangerous juveniles. Today, because of the Chiles/MacKay focus on prevention, incarceration and detention, key juvenile crime trends are headed downward. Between 1993 and 1998, juvenile murder cases dropped by almost half, down 42 percent; attempted murder cases fell 49 percent; auto theft dropped 32 percent; armed robbery fell 24 percent; and burglary was cut by 13 percent. In the year ending June 1998, overall juvenile crime decreased 1 percent, compared to an 11 percent annual increase when the department was created in 1994. This comes in the midst of a teen population boom in Florida, with an 18 percent increase predicted for 12- to 14-year-olds during the decade leading up to the year 2005 and a 26 percent jump in 15- to 17-year-olds. Swift, sure and appropriate sanctions for juvenile delinquents, especially serious habitual offenders, have been a top priority of the agency. To treat and house juvenile offenders and to protect public safety, the number of beds and slots in Florida escalated from about 4,500 in 1994 to 8,868 in 1998. Lengths of stay in delinquency programs rose. New reforms include maximum security programs where hardened juvenile offenders stay 18 to 36 months under strict restrictions but also can compete their high school education. Florida's juvenile justice budget included significant spending increases on community-based prevention and early intervention programs — a critical part of the department's "balanced approach." Florida's juvenile justice boards and councils worked to forge local action plans and target grants and resources for their own unique local needs. The Florida Business Partners for Prevention fosters the involvement of businesses in mentoring youth and recognizes the best examples every year with the Governor's Community Investment Awards. The vast majority of juveniles in delinquency commitment programs in Florida have never had a job. The department also recruited more than 700 faith-based organizations to take part in the Faith Community Network. The network, a voluntary referral network and a first for any state, worked with at-risk and delinquent youth. Because of a rise in delinquency cases involving girls, the Chiles/MacKay administration established the Listen to Girls initiative aimed at providing the right services to deal with the real-life issues of today's adolescent girls, while raising community awareness of the need for positive female role models and programs.
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