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Children Who Commit Status Offenses (CINS/FINS)

Children Who Commit Status Offenses (CINS/FINS). What is a Status Offense?. Committed by a person under the age of majority— only children can commit a status offense Actions that are law violations ONLY if committed by a child—because they are children Drinking

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Children Who Commit Status Offenses (CINS/FINS)

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  1. Children Who Commit Status Offenses (CINS/FINS)

  2. What is a Status Offense? • Committed by a person under the age of majority—onlychildren can commit a status offense • Actions that are law violations ONLY if committed by a child—because they are children • Drinking • Leaving home without permission • Tobacco use • Not attending school • Any non-criminal misbehavior—not covered in the criminal statutes for juveniles

  3. Traits of Children Who Commit Status Offenses Most often status offenders have issues that stem from developmental and family circumstances • Lack of parental supervision due to work schedule, health issues or substance abuse • The child has a contributing condition or illness that are barriers to learning and self-control • The pre-teen or teen has the expected developmental behaviors related to rebellion, asserting independence and impulsivity Status offenses may indicate that the child may first be a victim…. • Sexual and Physical Abuse • Neglect • Parental rejection/emotional abuse

  4. Status Offense or Criminal Behavior? • Domestic violence sibling-on-sibling, child on parent • Simple assault in the schools • Criminal Mischief • Use of illegal substances—drugs, alcohol, tobacco • Minor destruction of property Misdemeanors in the categories above can & should be diverted to intervention

  5. What is a Status Offense in Florida? • Florida’s separate law for status offenders are Chapters 984 and 228, F.S. • In Florida, status offenses are, specifically: • Habitual truancy, • Ungovernability ( out of reasonable control of parents), • Running away/leaving home without permission, and/or • Engaging in any behavior that puts the child at risk for abuse or neglect, e.g., locking the child out of the home.

  6. What is a Status Offense in Florida? In Florida, status offenders are defined in 2 categories: • FINS: A Family In Need of Services • CINS: A Child In Need of Services • FINS ARE VOLUNTARY SERVICES • CINS ARE COURT-ORDERED SERVICES (a petition must be filed)

  7. Eligibility for Children/Family in Need of Services 984.03(25), F.S. AT TIME OF REFERRAL, DOES NOT HAVE: An open investigation for abuse, neglect or abandonment, • Current supervision by DJJ or DCF, or • An adjudication of delinquency or dependency.

  8. What works with Status Offenders? Respite Services in temporary shelter are used when families and or the child appear to be potentially unsafe, are over-stressed or insist that this is the service they need. Family Strengthening, unless there is evidence of abuse or neglect or the child states this is the case. Hot line called.

  9. What Works?Effective Strategies from Meta AnalysisResearch • Individual-Level Interventions • Self Control/Social Competency • Individual counseling* • Behavioral Modeling/Modification • Contextual-Level • Teaching Family Model *Only apply to non-institutionalized juvenile offenders.

  10. Profile of Florida’s Status Offenders Who refers them? • 27% from concerned individuals/adults • 24% from schools • 13% from Law Enforcement • 11% from Juvenile Justice • 16% from other sources in community • 9% are self-referrals by the youth .

  11. Age Average age of youth in shelter: 15.2 Average age of youth receiving counseling services: 14.3 The most frequent ages of served youth: 15, 14 & 16 Gender 51% female 49% male Risks: 89% have multiple risk factors in 3 of 4 domains (school, family, peer group and individual youth behavior) School problems -- 92% Family problems -- 96% Suicide risks -- 28% Previous Arrest -- 36%* *DJJ Outcome Evaluation Report 2006. Profile of Florida’s Status Offenders

  12. Status Offender CORE SERVICES (Emergency Room) • Centralized Intake Open 24/7 (Assessment, Triage) • Runaway/Crisis Shelter(In-patient admission) • Non-residential Services to Families(Out-patient Services) • Case & Court Management (Referral/Check-ups ) • Prevention and Outreach(Public Health Education)

  13. Specialized Services • Staff Secure placements • Court-ordered • 90-day stay in unlocked shelter • Physically Secure (locked) placements (funded for 6 per year) • 90 to 120-day stay in MH or SA Treatment facility • Contracted service with Treatment Centers

  14. How Many are Served?2006-07 Screening for eligibility: 31,647 calls for help Intake & Assessment: 14,863 Shelter: 6,242/73,569 days of care Non-residential services: 10,957 Counseling and Case Management: 17,377 (unduplicated count, includes re-admission which make up about 15% of those served) Florida Network stats only

  15. How Many are Served?2006-07 Prevention and Outreach: • 1,620 children and 3005 adults received education/attended groups on topics of alcohol & substance use, adolescent behavior, parenting or educational issues. • Nearly 68,000 children and adults were educated on the services available

  16. Outcomes2006 DJJ Outcome Report Most Recent Data is from 2003-04 94% Youth remained crime-free for 6 months post discharge 88% did not enter the JJ system at 6-months post discharge In 2003-04… Average length of stay in shelters: 8 days Average time in non-residential: 16 weeks

  17. Where to Get Help GO TO floridanetwork.org Click on the county where you live to find the phone number of the nearest shelter —open 24-7 • CALL 1-800-runaway (786-2929) Will refer you to the agency in your area • Wherever you see a Safe Place sign • Businesses are trained to help get you to a shelter • Local law enforcement can take you to the nearest youth crisis shelter • Brochures are handed out to law enforcement, schools & other places • Presentations are made at the community level

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