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\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT GAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER TITLE ACCREDITATION Juvenile Programs and CALEA 44.1.1 Administrative Procedures PRIOR REVISIONS PROPONENT UNIT 12/01/98, 01/16/2020. School Resource Officer Unit, 02/20/2020 Personnel Division and Community Engagement ATTACHMENT: NUMBER ISSUE DATE REVISION DATE TOTAL PAGES 44.1 07/01/98 07/07/2025 6 I. PURPOSE: This Order establishes guidelines and procedures for community youth engagement and criminal justice juvenile diversion programs. II. DISCUSSION: Commitment to Youth and Community Engagement The sworn and non-sworn members of the Gainesville Police Department recognize and embrace our community’s commitment to supporting youth. We understand that any law enforcement interaction—whether through mentorship or enforcement—can have a lasting impact on a young person’s future. Introducing a youth into the Juvenile Justice System through arrest can result in long-term, often irreversible consequences, including stigma, labeling, and diminished opportunities for higher education, military service, or employment. Historically, policing strategies have sometimes relied on punitive approaches such as “zero tolerance” or “making an example of” youth. However, our community is calling on all institutions and public servants to adopt a more thoughtful and rehabilitative approach—one that balances accountability with compassion and development. In response, the Gainesville Police Department is committed to seeking alternatives to arrest whenever appropriate. These alternatives include, but are not limited to, Civil Citations, de-escalation techniques, counseling, referrals to social and community-based programs, and approaches rooted in empathy. A key component of this approach is the active use of diversion programs. Diversion options allow youth who commit minor or first-time offenses to be redirected away from the formal juvenile justice process and toward supportive services aimed at addressing underlying issues. The Gainesville Police Department employs a dedicated Juvenile Delinquency Program Coordinator who works closely with the Alachua County Sheriff's Office Teen Court program to ensure that diversionary options are identified and utilized whenever appropriate. Through this coordinated effort, eligible youth are given the opportunity to take responsibility for their actions in a constructive and supportive environment, helping them avoid the long-term negative consequences associated with formal adjudication. To ensure the effective implementation of these strategies, department personnel will be offered comprehensive training in Procedural Justice, Disproportionate Minority Contact/Racial and Ethnic Disparities (DMC/R.E.D.), trauma-informed practices, Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), and Fair and Impartial Policing. These efforts reflect our 1\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT dedication to fostering trust, equity, and positive outcomes for the youth of Gainesville. III. POLICY: Department, in conjunction with agencies within the juvenile justice system, is committed to developing and perpetuating programs and policies designed to prevent and control juvenile delinquency. The responsibility of participating in and supporting the Department’s juvenile operations function is shared by all Department members. IV. DEFINITIONS: Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC): Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) refer to DMC as the disproportionate number of minority youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system. Section 223(a) (22) of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2002 broadened the scope of DMC from “disproportionate minority confinement” to “disproportionate minority contact,” requiring an examination of potential disproportionate representation from secure detention and confinement to all decision points within the juvenile justice continuum and implementation of data- based prevention and system improvement strategies to reduce identified disproportionality. Juvenile Delinquent: Any married or unmarried person who is charged with a violation of law which incident occurred prior to the time that person reached the age of 18 years. Trauma Awareness: Sworn and non-Sworn employees of the Gainesville Police Department should be familiar with A.C.E.’s (adverse childhood experiences) and recognize when trauma contributes to adolescent misbehavior. Juveniles lack the cognitive ability to make rational and well thought out decisions and therefore sometimes react in a fight, flight or freeze response. Arresting a youth who is experiencing trauma (i.e. angry, fighting, non- compliance), should be a last resort and Officers are encouraged to seek alternatives prior to criminal charging a youth. De-Escalating Youth Behavior: Sworn and non-Sworn members of the Gainesville Police Department will be trained in Crisis Intervention Training, Procedural Justice, Trauma Awareness (brain development/de-escalation) and utilize de-escalation techniques when appropriate. De-escalating techniques (i.e. reflective listening, empathy) will be utilized when members are attempting to defuse disruptive and adolescent behavior. Racial Ethnic Disparity (R.E.D.): The W. Haywood Burns Institute for Juvenile Justice Fairness & Equity refer to Racial and ethnic disparity as the unequal treatment of youth of color in the juvenile justice system. RED results in disparate outcomes for similarly situated youth. V. PROCEDURES: Youth-related functions within the Gainesville Police Department are coordinated across multiple bureaus. The following is a list of specific roles and programs dedicated to supporting and engaging with youth in our community: 1. Community Engagement Unit: a. The Crime Prevention Division is responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of programs that focus on reducing the instances and impact of criminal activity within the community. The primary goal of the Crime Prevention Section is to increase community awareness and motivate citizens to become actively involved in helping to reduce crime. 2\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT b. Gainesville Police Athletic League (G-PAL): The Gainesville Police Athletic League (GPAL) is a subset of the National PAL Mentoring Program, which is funded through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The mission of GPAL is to strengthen and expand mentoring services to at-risk/high-risk youth populations within the Gainesville community as well as strengthen community ties with local law enforcement. Mentors and mentees participate in positive mentoring activities and sports through PAL chapters, providing greater opportunities for individual/group mentoring and academic achievement. c. Police / Youth Dialogue Program: The DMC coordinator hosts dialogue between police and youth, particularly at-risk youth, in an effort to break down communication barriers, clear up misconceptions and develop understandings on both sides. d. Juvenile Delinquency Citation Program: The Gainesville Police Department is committed to reducing youth involvement in the criminal justice system through early intervention, restorative practices, and collaborative partnerships. The Juvenile Delinquency Program plays a central role in this effort by ensuring eligible youth are diverted from formal adjudication and connected with services that promote accountability, personal growth, and community reintegration. The program is managed by a dedicated Juvenile Delinquency Program Coordinator who serves as the primary liaison between the Gainesville Police Department and the Alachua County Juvenile Delinquency Citation Program. This coordinator facilitates daily communication and case coordination with the Department of Juvenile Justice, Alachua County Sheriff's Office Tee