Punishment Alternatives: Civil Citations and Juvenile Delinquency in Florida

• In Event: Alternative Sanctions for Juveniles

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on rehabilitative rather than punitive punishment measures. As such, criminological research and policy has begun to explore the potential role of sanctioning alternatives in the reduction of criminal or delinquent behaviors. In 2011, Florida instituted the widespread development and use of civil citations—a diversion program that serves as an alternative to adjudication for juveniles—in the hopes of reducing future delinquency. Utilizing data provided by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice from 2011 to 2013, this study seeks to test the efficacy of Florida’s civil citation program. A quasi-experimental study design will be employed using propensity score matching on juvenile risk factors as well as logistic regression analysis, to estimate the efficacy of the implementation of the civil citation program, as well as the subsequent effects of civil citations on the likelihood of future delinquent behaviors.

Authors

• William Bales, Florida State University

• Melissa Nadel, Florida State University

• Mark Andrew Greenwald, Florida State University

• George Pesta, Florida State University