Intake Process
The Community Assessment Tool (CAT) is used to assess a delinquent youth’s risks and needs and guides treatment recommendations. The assessment process begins with a CAT Pre-Screen interview administered to all youth referred to DJJ. The initial assessment takes approximately 20-25 minutes to complete. A single CAT Pre-Screen interview at intake assists the Juvenile Probation Officer to identify if a youth is in need of further mental health, alcohol, or substance abuse assessment. A more detailed assessment (called the CAT Full Assessment) is given to youth who score at Moderate-High or High risk to re-offend on the CAT Pre-Screen. Information from the CAT Full Assessment can be used to develop plans specific to the youth’s identified needs. The Department calls this plan the Youth Empowered Success (YES) Plan.
The CAT also identifies those strengths (or protective factors) that can be built upon to turn the youth’s life around. The benefit of measuring risk factors and protective factors is that juvenile justice professionals involved with a particular youth are better able to match a child’s current needs with the right programs and services. CAT Reassessments are completed periodically to help the Juvenile Probation Officer and other professionals measure the progress that the youth is making on addressing factors related to delinquent behavior.
The Youth-Empowered Success (YES) Plan assist the Juvenile Probation Officers and contracted case managers to use the information gathered through the PACT assessment to establish meaningful goals and actions in collaboration with the youth and family.
An "Intake" Juvenile Probation Officer receives a copy of the charge from law enforcement or the clerk of the court. The Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO) will contact the youth and family and conduct an interview to gather information about the youth and family. The purpose of the intake process is for the juvenile probation officer (JPO) to assess the youth’s risk and needs to determine the most appropriate recommendations for services by considering the interests of the youth, parent(s)/guardian(s), victim, and community. The assessment information is collected through interviews, observations and interactions with the youth and the family. Information is also obtained from the complainant, the victim, school officials and other individuals and agencies associated with the youth and family. The intake assessment process initially results in a recommendation to the state attorney and, if necessary, a written report to the court or the Predisposition Report. The intake process assists the JPO in choosing the most appropriate recommendation for services that balances the needs and interest of the youth, family, the victim, and the community as a whole.
Effective September 1, 2011, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sample collection is required in accordance with section 943.325, F.S., at disposition. In your child’s case, DNA collection is required for felonies and certain misdemeanors once your child has been arrested by law enforcement—even if your child’s case has not gone before a judge. Being found guilty of certain felony offenses may result in a court order that your child must cooperate with DNA testing. DNA test results are kept on file with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).