The department adopted a Juvenile Diversion Program, following the successful model used by the Port St. Lucie Police Department.  Used as a tool by the officers, the program is designed to allow first time misdemeanor juvenile offenders the opportunity to participate in a counseling or peer review session, complete assigned sanctions, and exit the program without obtaining a criminal record.  The program was designed to allow swift and certain punishment, thereby avoiding lengthy court proceedings, which do not always result in punishments for first timers. 

Sanctions are primarily issued by the department’s juvenile detective or the peer review board include as a form of punishment. Offenders may have to write letters of apology, and/or essays; complete community service hours, counseling, drug evaluations; pay restitution; abide by curfews and mandatory school attendance.  From the day of issuance, the offender has 30 days to complete all sanctions.

Whereas we recognize that the program is not a fix-all to prevent juvenile crime, it is definitely a tool worth using. 

For more information contact Detective Daniela Dreizehnter call 772-461-3820 or Email her at ddreizehnter@fppd.org.