Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit has just implemented its first-ever Adult Civil Citation program—a 90-day pilot that will divert people detained on first-time misdemeanor charges away from the criminal-legal system. Instead of being arrested, processed and booked into county jail, those eligible will be required to pay a fine, take rehabilitative classes and complete community service.
Florida authorized adult civil citation programs in 2018. The state has other such programs in other judicial circuits. But Ninth Circuit covers Orange and Osceola counties, which includes Orlando, so it’s the most centrally located circuit as well as one of the largest.
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