Civil Citations

We continue to monitor Civil Citations, Florida’s pre-arrest diversion program for youth. Our goal remains clear: at least 80% of eligible youth should be receiving civil citations in lieu of arrest. However, data from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice shows that only 55% of eligible children in Leon County received a civil citation in 2024. This is a disappointing outcome that falls well short of our expectations.

Month-to-month citation rates have varied significantly, from a low of 33% in July to a high of 85% in February, highlighting the inconsistency in how the program is applied. With 116 civil citations issued out of 211 eligible cases, too many young people are still being arrested despite meeting the criteria for diversion.

We will be following up with law enforcement leadership in the coming weeks to address this and to advocate for full utilization of civil citations as intended by the statute. Consistent and fair use of diversion is essential to creating better outcomes for our children and communities.