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ELIZABETH A. _)UTZGER <br />Cm1:1- Jul)GE <br />NINE-FEENTI4 JUDICIAL CIRCUYF <br />OF FLORIDA <br />COUNTIES OF MARTIN. ST. LUCIE. <br />INDIAN RIVER AND OKEECHOBEE <br />100 EAST OCEAN BOULEVARD <br />STUART, FLORIDA 34994 <br />Wydee *a E. Wilson, CPM April 91.2018 <br />Chief Probation Officer <br />Department ot'Juvenile Justice. Circuit 19 <br />337 7 North 411, Street, Ste. 307 <br />07 <br />Fort Pierce, Florida 34950 <br />Dear Ms. Wilson: <br />JANET CASON <br />JUDICIAL ASSISTANT <br />(772) 2M5560 <br />FAX (772) 288-5559 <br />In 2006, the NincteenthJUdicial Circuit entered into an interailrencN, ! agreement for the establishment <br />of aC <br />juvenile civil citation program with the Off -ices of the State Attorney and Public Defender, the <br />Department of Juvenile Justice, the Vero Beach Police Department, and the respective Sheriffs of Indian <br />River, Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee Counties. Since that time. Court Administration has operated a <br />civil citation program for juveniles referred pre -arrest by law enforcement in accordance with section <br />I - <br />985. 12. Florida Statutes, as well as a juvenile diversion program for juveniles referred post -arrest through <br />tile Office of the State Attorney. <br />Section 985.12 was Substantially amended during the 2018 legislative session, and the statute no <br />longer contemplates any participation by the judicial branch in either the establishment or operation of civil <br />citation. In addition, statutory fees used to Support both civil citation and juvenile diversion have steadily <br />declined over the years to the point where it is no longer financially feasible for Court Administration to <br />operate the programs. Consequently, I am writing today to inform you that Court Administration will be <br />phasing Out both programs within the next few months. Court Administration staff and I will continue to <br />work with the representatives of all parties to the interagency agreement and others to ensure that civil <br />citation and juvenile diversion will continue under the direction and management of new and existing <br />providers in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. <br />S�elv, <br />izabeth A. tv tiger <br />Chief Judge <br />42 <br />