53586471.pdf

\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nSEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NUMBER: G-17 GENERAL ORDER RESCINDS: SUBJECT: Juvenile Crime Prevention Policy EFFECTIVE: November 14, 1994 REVISED: May 17, 2023 Table of Contents: I. Purpose II. Scope III. Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Police Athletic League Youth Deputy Unit (Explorer Post 517) Cadet Program Seminole County Police Athletic League Flag Football Seminole County Police Athletic League Basketball PAL Camps Elite Ladies of PAL Explorers Academy IV. School Resource Program V. Juvenile Assessment Center Civil Citations VI. Youth Services Prevention and Enforcement Center Youth Intervention Services/Community Interventions VII. Consequences Alternative Sanctions Unit Eugene Gregory Memorial Youth Academy Project SWEAT (Sheriff’s Work Ethics and Training) Graffiti Abatement Youth Intervention Services/Enforcement Services Seminole Truancy Alternatives for Youth (STAY) Center Evolution Program VIII. Seminole County Juvenile Detention Center IX. Annual Review and Evaluation I. PURPOSE: This directive defines Sheriff’s Office policy regarding its commitment to the prevention of juvenile crime, and to the development and perpetuation of initiatives designed to prevent, intervene and enforce laws related to juvenile delinquency. II. SCOPE: STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Juvenile Crime Prevention Policy G-17 PAGE 1 OF 11\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nA. The responsibility for participating and supporting juvenile initiatives is shared by all employees and operational components. Employees should be familiar with juvenile initiatives provided by the Sheriff’s Office and are encouraged to actively support them as participants and advisors. B. The Sheriff’s Office encourages constructive input and comment for the development and implementation of its juvenile initiatives, policies and procedures. Input may be obtained through routine working relationships (as demonstrated by the Juvenile Assessment Center and its participating entities) or individually solicited. Input is encouraged from, but not limited to: 1. The Juvenile Justice Division of the Office of the State Attorney, 2. The Department of Children and Families, 3. The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, 4. Seminole County Public Schools, and 5. Juvenile related Seminole County task forces or private service entities. III. SEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE: A. Description: The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Police Athletic League (hereafter referred to as SCSO PAL) demonstrates the viability of law enforcement and the community working together for the benefit of Seminole County youth by creating activities for children focused on the reduction of juvenile crime. The SCSO PAL is an organization sponsored by the Sheriff’s Office to provide proactive youth programs throughout Seminole County. The goal is to prevent juvenile delinquency through positive role modeling, enhancement of self-esteem and the development of positive moral values through wholesome competition. Innovative partnerships focusing on developing community sports programs, such as Flag Football, are cornerstones of the SCSO PAL initiative. There is a Program Administrator that oversees the day to day operations of the SCSO PAL. The Program Administrator of SCSO PAL is hired by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff provides expenses as necessary to support its programs. Employees are encouraged to participate in its programs. B. General Accounting of Money: All designated personnel working for the Department of Family and Youth Services will follow YIS policy. Designated personnel include Program Administrator and the Senior Advisor for each program under PAL, as well as, the Captain, Manager, Supervisor, and Sergeant of the Juvenile Justice Division, Youth Intervention Services Unit. C. Youth Deputy Unit (Explorer Post 517): 1. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Youth Deputy Unit is co-sponsored with the Boy Scouts of America Police Explorer Program and Seminole County PAL. It is the intent of the program to promote community service and law enforcement career exploration through training and hands-on interaction. The Post is open to teenagers entering the ninth (9th) grade through twenty (20) years of age. 2. Founded in the late 1960’s, Explorer Post 517 is the Seminole County Sheriff Office oldest community relations program. Explorers are trained in arrest techniques, leadership, crime scene investigation, traffic control, fingerprinting, traffic stops and enforcement procedures. They are permitted to ride with Deputy Sheriff’s to gain first- hand experience in law enforcement, participate on a pistol team that attends statewide competitions, and join an Honor Guard that represents the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office at parades and other ceremonial events. STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Juvenile Crime Prevention Policy G-17 PAGE 2 OF 11\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\n3. The Youth Deputy Unit is directed by the PAL Senior Advisor. The PAL Senior Advisor may choose to appoint an Advisor to oversee the operations of the Unit. The Senior Advisor serves as the unit commander, and is responsible for promoting, managing, and directing the unit. 4. Annually, the PAL Senior Advisor and the Program Administrator of the Police Athletic League ensures a budget request of funds is submitted through the Director and/or Captain of the Juvenile Justice Division. The request will sufficiently fund the costs of maintaining the Sheriff’s Office responsibility to the unit. 5. Assistant Advisors may be chosen from the sworn or non-sworn ranks, and the Senior Advisor may select assistants at random, or may post them as vacant positions. D. Cadet Program: The Sheriff’s Jr. Cadet Program is a sub-unit of Explorers Post 517 and is co-sponsored by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and Seminole County Police Athletic League. The program is open to children from sixth (6th) grad through the eighth (8th) grade. Like the Explorer Program, Cadets are taught the importance of community partnerships with law enforcement by participating in community service events throughout the county. They are also trained in aspects of law enforcement by way of guest speakers and practical training exercises. Although the Cadets do not compete at the Explorer level, training is provided to prepare them for competition at a later time. E. Seminole County Police Athletic League Flag Football: The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Police Athletic League Flag Football Program is a youth outreach program for all youth between 6 to 13 years of age, male and female. SCSO-PAL Flag Football aims to provide the youth participating in a fun and exciting opportunity engaging in non- contact, continuous action while learning lessons in teamwork. F. Seminole County Police Athletic League Basketball: The Seminole County Police Athletic League Basketball Program is a youth outreach program for all youth between 5 to 14 years of age, male and female, within Seminole County. PAL Basketball aims to provide a different avenue for kids in Seminole County to spend their time. G. PAL Camps: Seminole County Police Athletic League Spring and Summer Camps run in conjunction with the Seminole County Public Schools calendar for the spring break and summer breaks. The camp is staffed with Seminole County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Deputies and civilian staff. The objectives of the Seminole County Police Athletic League Camps is to provide the youths a safe and fun place to be during spring and summer break, provide an economically sound place for the parent to leave their children, and provide an avenue to create friendships between the youth of Seminole County and Deputy Sheriffs. The mission is to build positive relationships between law enforcement and children, while providing a safe place for kids to play during the spring and summer breaks. H. Elite Ladies of PAL: Seminole County Police Athletic League Elite Ladies of PAL is a way for t