Counties Seek Agreement With State Over Juvenile Detention Costs

March 26, 2015

County commissioners from around Florida urged lawmakers Wednesday to approve a proposal that could end a long-running battle about how to split juvenile detention costs.

Commissioners told the House Appropriations Committee they are looking for a “50-50 split” on the disputed costs. But the House budget proposal calls for counties to pick up 57 percent of the costs, while the state would pay 43 percent.

But Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson, who is president of the Florida Association of Counties, said the local governments think 50 percent is fair. Also, a question remains about county requests to be reimbursed for overcharges in the past. Robinson said counties are open to negotiating with the state on the back payments.

Commissioners told the House Appropriations Committee they are looking for a “50-50 split” on the disputed costs. But the House budget proposal calls for counties to pick up 57 percent of the costs, while the state would pay 43 percent. The dispute centers on a 2004 law that requires counties to pay “pre-disposition” costs associated with juveniles waiting for cases to be resolved in court.

The state Department of Juvenile Justice pays the cost of detaining youths whose cases have been decided — known as “post-disposition.”

But the two sides have been embroiled in a series of legal battles about how to carry out the law, with the counties arguing they have been overcharged. The 1st District Court of Appeal ruled last year in the counties’ favor. House Justice Appropriations Chairman Larry Metz, R-Yalaha, said Wednesday the proposal for counties to pay 57 percent of the disputed costs is “data driven.”

by The News Service of Florida

Comments

3 Responses to “Counties Seek Agreement With State Over Juvenile Detention Costs”

  1. CINDI COSTELLO on March 31st, 2015 8:00 am

    DEAR GROVER ROBINSON STOP OVERBILLING FLA. TAXPAYERS FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE COSTS FIX THIS PROBLEM AND REFUND THE MONEY WRONGFULLY WRESTED FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES.NO EXCUSES. THANK YOU.

  2. Barry Meyrowitz on March 27th, 2015 10:57 am

    It already is split three ways. Detention Cost Sharing is primarily the responsibility of Counties and the State Department of Juvenile Justice, however, Pre and Post Dispositional costs are charged back to parents (although Judges may waive or reduce the cost of care, if the parent demonstrates an inability to pay). Cost of care charges are statutorily mandated and are assessed at a modest $1.00 per day for Probation and Home Detention Supervision, and $5.00 per day for Secure Detention or placement in a residential commitment program. So a 50/50 split is fair.

  3. john on March 26th, 2015 6:29 am

    Maybe it should be split 3 ways starting with the parents of the juvenile until he,she turns 18, then state and local governments paying each about 33%

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News