Issue Statement and Context
Serious long-term consequences often come with arrest records, such as limited employment and wage-growth opportunities, which can lead people with records to further involvement with the criminal justice system. While use of enforcement may at times be necessary, there are also non-punitive alternatives that can be equally, if not more, effective. Given that the majority of arrests are made for non-violent and/or low-level offenses, there are numerous opportunities to implement alternatives, which are often much less expensive than traditional criminal justice responses.
These alternatives like diversion programs work to reverse some of the negative collateral consequences associated with enforcement, such as decreased community-police trust, racially disparate outcomes, and the decreased economic opportunities associated with having a criminal record. One alternative, use of civil citations in lieu of arrest for minor infractions, is gaining prominence as an effective way to promote public safety and decrease the jail population. Civil citations are widely used in Florida as a response for first-time, non-serious juvenile offenders.
Miami-Dade’s juvenile civil program has been cited as an exemplary model of creating systemic change in how juvenile justice is delivered, for the first, second, and third-time misdemeanor offenders who commit a minor offense, who can attain complete and targeted treatment services without the stigma of an arrest. The program has a recidivism rate of 1% for youth successfully completing the Civil Citation Program, and an 83% Successful Completion Rate.
These alternatives like diversion programs work to reverse some of the negative collateral consequences associated with enforcement, such as decreased community-police trust, racially disparate outcomes, and the decreased economic opportunities associated with having a criminal record. One alternative, use of civil citations in lieu of arrest for minor infractions, is gaining prominence as an effective way to promote public safety and decrease the jail population. Civil citations are widely used in Florida as a response for first-time, non-serious juvenile offenders.
Miami-Dade’s juvenile civil program has been cited as an exemplary model of creating systemic change in how juvenile justice is delivered, for the first, second, and third-time misdemeanor offenders who commit a minor offense, who can attain complete and targeted treatment services without the stigma of an arrest. The program has a recidivism rate of 1% for youth successfully completing the Civil Citation Program, and an 83% Successful Completion Rate.
Detailed Action Summary
Revise and expand MDPD’s existing civil citation program to reduce detentions, arrests, and recidivism. Change expectations of MDPD officers and the way they are trained and assessed as it relates to the use of civil citations.