JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION CONGRESSIONAL EARMARK PROGRAMS

The Miami-Dade Juvenile Assessment Center is a centralized processing, referral, and evaluation center for all juveniles arrested in the county. The information resource center will allow for the analysis and dissemination of currently fragmented information concerning juveniles to case managers and juvenile judges. The analysis and organization of information would then be available for juvenile judges to make informed decisions regarding sanctions/placements of juveniles and social services providers for improved delivery of services. In addition, JAC partners, researchers, and state and local officials will use this information to develop legislative policy and the appropriate direction of limited funding resources. The objectives of JAC are to include educational information on JAC processed youth, to improve the interface with participation agency databases and link the JAC on-site screening and assessment and case management MIS to the Information Resource Center, and to install PCs in the courtrooms of juvenile judges enabling them to access summary information on JAC processed youth. The greater goal of the JAC is to create replicable models that are based on scientific research that will make the juvenile justice system more efficient and effective in Miami-Dade County.

NCA/NCF

The Miami-Dade Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) is a centralized processing, referral, and evaluation center for all juveniles arrested in Miami-Dade County. The JAC allows representatives from law enforcement and social services to work together under one roof to provide a complete range of services at the initial stages of the juvenile's involvement with the juvenile justice system. With these continuation funds the JAC will continue to build on findings, recommendations and achievements of the JAC national demonstration project research and planning initiative. This initiative will support the evaluation report of the Serious Habitual Offender Comprehensive Action Plan (SHOCAP) siblings pilot intervention, the evaluation report for the Gender Specific Needs Service Intervention Program, and protocols for a state-of-the-art screening/assessment/referral application for arrested youth ages 12 years and under.NCA/NCF