Florida Statutes 397.706 – Screening, assessment, and disposition of juvenile offenders
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(1) The substance abuse treatment needs of juvenile offenders and their families must be identified and addressed through diversionary programs and adjudicatory proceedings pursuant to chapter 984 or chapter 985.
(2) The juvenile and circuit courts, in conjunction with department substate entity administration, shall establish policies and procedures to ensure that juvenile offenders are appropriately screened for substance abuse problems and that diversionary and adjudicatory proceedings include appropriate conditions and sanctions to address substance abuse problems. Policies and procedures must address:
(a) The designation of local service providers responsible for screening and assessment services and dispositional recommendations to the department and the court.
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 397.706
- Court: means the court of legal jurisdiction in the context in which the term is used in this chapter. See Florida Statutes 397.311
- Department: means the Department of Children and Families. See Florida Statutes 397.311
- Screening: means the gathering of initial information to be used in determining a person's need for assessment, services, or referral. See Florida Statutes 397.311
- Substance abuse: means the misuse or abuse of, or dependence on alcohol, illicit drugs, or prescription medications. See Florida Statutes 397.311
- substance abuse impaired: means a condition involving the use of alcoholic beverages or any psychoactive or mood-altering substance in such a manner as to induce mental, emotional, or physical problems and cause socially dysfunctional behavior. See Florida Statutes 397.311
- Substate entity: means a departmental office designated to serve a geographical area specified by the department. See Florida Statutes 397.311
(b) The means by which juvenile offenders are processed to ensure participation in screening and assessment services.
(c) The role of the court in securing assessments when juvenile offenders or their families are noncompliant.
(d) Safeguards to ensure that information derived through screening and assessment is used solely to assist in dispositional decisions and not for purposes of determining innocence or guilt.
(3) Because resources available to support screening and assessment services are limited, the judicial circuits and department substate entity administration must develop those capabilities to the extent possible within available resources according to the following priorities:
(a) Juvenile substance abuse offenders.
(b) Juvenile offenders who are substance abuse impaired at the time of the offense.
(c) Second or subsequent juvenile offenders.
(d) Minors taken into custody.
(4) The court may require juvenile offenders and their families to participate in substance abuse assessment and treatment services in accordance with the provisions of chapter 984 or chapter 985 and may use its contempt powers to enforce its orders.