The Florida Senate

985.316  Aftercare.--

(1)  The Legislature finds that:

(a)  Aftercare is the care, treatment, help, and supervision provided juveniles released from residential commitment programs to promote rehabilitation and prevent recidivism.

(b)  Aftercare services can contribute significantly to a successful transition of a juvenile from a residential commitment to the juvenile's home, school, and community. Therefore, the best efforts should be made to provide for a successful transition.

(c)  The purpose of aftercare is to protect safety; reduce recidivism; increase responsible productive behaviors; and provide for a successful transition of care and custody of the youth from the state to the family.

(d)  Accordingly, aftercare should be included in the continuum of care.

(2)  It is the intent of the Legislature that:

(a)  Commitment programs include rehabilitative efforts on preparing committed juveniles for a successful release to the community.

(b)  Aftercare transition planning begins as early in the commitment process as possible.

(c)  Each juvenile committed to a residential commitment program be assessed to determine the need for aftercare services upon release from the commitment program.

(3)  For juveniles referred or committed to the department, the function of the department may include, but shall not be limited to, assessing each committed juvenile to determine the need for aftercare services upon release from a commitment program, supervising the juvenile when released into the community from a residential commitment facility of the department, providing such counseling and other services as may be necessary for the families and assisting their preparations for the return of the child. Subject to specific appropriation, the department shall provide for outpatient sexual offender counseling for any juvenile sexual offender released from a commitment program as a component of aftercare.

(4)  After a youth is released from a residential commitment program, aftercare services may be delivered through either minimum-risk nonresidential commitment restrictiveness programs or postcommitment community control. A juvenile under minimum-risk nonresidential commitment placement will continue to be on commitment status and subject to the transfer provision under s. 985.404. A juvenile on postcommitment community control will be subject to the provisions under s. 985.231(1)(a).

History.--s. 5, ch. 90-208; s. 55, ch. 94-209; s. 1354, ch. 95-147; s. 5, ch. 95-266; s. 47, ch. 95-267; s. 60, ch. 97-238; s. 17, ch. 99-284.

Note.--Former s. 39.067.