Florida · statute · Fla. Stat. ch. 984 · 27 active provisions
(1) The purposes of this chapter are:(a) To provide judicial, nonjudicial, and other procedures to address the status offenses of children who are truant from school, run away from their caregivers, or exhibit ungovernable behavior by refusing to follow the household rules of their caregivers and engage in behavior tha…
(1) GENERAL PROTECTIONS FOR CHILDREN.—It is a purpose of the Legislature that the children of this state be provided with the following protections:(a) Protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.(b) A permanent and stable home.(c) A safe and nurturing environment which will preserve a sense of personal dignity an…
When used in this chapter, the term:(1) “Abandoned” or “abandonment” has the same meaning as in s. 39.01(1).(2) “Abuse” has the same meaning as in s. 39.01(2).(3) “Adjudicatory hearing” means a hearing for the court to determine whether or not the facts support the allegations stated in the petition as is provided for…
(1) The department shall be responsible for all nonjudicial proceedings involving voluntary family services for a family identified as a family in need of services according to rules established by the department under chapter 120.(2) The circuit court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of judicial proceedings…
(1) The judge, clerks or deputy clerks, or authorized agents of the department shall each have the power to administer oaths and affirmations.(2) The court shall make and keep records of all cases brought before it pursuant to this chapter and shall preserve the records until 10 years after the last entry was made or u…
(1) When a petition is filed alleging that a child is a child in need of services or if the child is subject to contempt proceedings under s. 984.09, the child must be represented by counsel at each court appearance. The court must appoint counsel unless the child is not indigent and has counsel present to represent th…
(1) The department shall develop and publish an information guide that explains the current process under this chapter for obtaining assistance for a child in need of services or a family in need of services and the community services and resources available to parents. The information guide shall be published in a wri…
The Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Children and Families shall encourage interagency cooperation within each circuit and shall develop comprehensive agreements between the staff and providers for each department in order to coordinate the services provided to children who are locked out of the hom…
A child under the jurisdiction of the court solely pursuant to this chapter may not be placed in:(1) Any form of detention care intended for the use of alleged juvenile delinquents as authorized under chapter 985 for any purpose.(2) A secure detention facility authorized for use under chapter 985 for any purpose.(3) An…
(1) CONTEMPT OF COURT; LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—The court may punish any child for contempt for interfering with the court or with court administration, or for violating any provision of this chapter or order of the court relative thereto. It is the intent of the Legislature that the court restrict and limit the use of cont…
(1) Intake shall be performed by the department or the department’s authorized agent. A report alleging that a child is from a family in need of services shall be made to the intake office operating in the county in which the child is found or in which the case arose. Any person or agency, including, but not limited to…
(1) The department or its authorized agent shall provide an array of voluntary family services aimed at remediating school truancy, homelessness, and runaway and ungovernable behavior by children. Services to families in need of services shall be by voluntary agreement of the parent, legal guardian, or custodian and th…
(1) The appropriate representative of the department shall request a meeting of the family and child with a case staffing committee to review the case of any family or child who the department determines is in need of services if:(a) The family or child is not in agreement with the services or treatment offered;(b) The…
(1) A child may be taken into custody:(a) By a law enforcement officer when the officer reasonably believes that the child has run away from his or her parents, legal guardian, or custodian.(b) By a designated school representative pursuant to s. 1003.26(3) or a law enforcement officer when the officer reasonably belie…
(1) Temporary voluntary shelter services provided by the department shall provide a safe environment with 24-hour care and supervision, referrals for services as needed, and education at the center or offsite and counseling services for children.(2) If a child is sheltered due to being a runaway, or a parent, legal gua…
(1) All proceedings seeking an adjudication that a child is a child in need of services shall be initiated by the filing of a petition by an attorney representing the department or by the child’s parent, legal guardian, or custodian.(2)(a) The department shall file a petition for a child in need of services if the chil…
(1) If the school determines that a student subject to compulsory school attendance has had at least five unexcused absences, or absences for which the reasons are unknown, within a calendar month or 10 unexcused absences, or absences for which the reasons are unknown, within a 90-calendar-day period pursuant to s. 100…
(1) Personal appearance of any person in a hearing before the court shall obviate the necessity of serving process on that person.(2) Upon the filing of a petition containing allegations of facts which, if true, would constitute the child therein being named a child in need of services, and upon the request of the peti…
(1) At the time a child in need of services petition is filed, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem for the child.(2) No answer to the petition or any other pleading need be filed by any child, parent, legal guardian, or custodian, but any matters which might be set forth in an answer or other pleading may be plea…
(1) When any child is to be placed in shelter care, the department or its authorized agent may have a medical screening provided for the child without authorization from the court and without consent from a parent, legal guardian, or custodian. Such medical screening shall be provided by a licensed health care professi…
(1) ARRAIGNMENT HEARING.—(a) The clerk shall set a date for an arraignment hearing within a reasonable time after the date of the filing of the child in need of services petition. The court shall advise the child and the parent, legal guardian, or custodian of the right to counsel as provided in s. 984.07. The hearing…
(1) An order of adjudication by a court that a child is a child in need of services is a civil adjudication, and is not deemed a conviction, nor shall the child be deemed to have been found guilty or to be a delinquent or criminal by reason of adjudication, nor shall that adjudication operate to impose upon the child a…
(1) If the court finds that services and treatment have not been provided or used by a child or family, the court having jurisdiction of the child in need of services shall have the power to direct the least intrusive and least restrictive disposition, as follows:(a) Order the parent, legal guardian, or custodian and t…
(1) The court may order that a child adjudicated as a child in need of services be placed in shelter to enforce the court’s orders, to ensure the child attends school, to ensure the child receives needed counseling, and to ensure the child adheres to a service plan. While a child is in a shelter, the child shall receiv…
(1) Subject to specific legislative appropriation, the department shall establish or contract for physically secure shelters for the placement of children in need of services who meet the criteria provided in this section.(2) When a child is adjudicated as a child in need of services by a court and all other less restr…