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Home Services at the JAC Our Partners Law Enforcement Information Parent Information Contact Us Map & Directions Newsletter Archive	Frequently Asked Questions By Law Enforcement What crimes are eligible for issuance of a Civil Citation? By statute, Civil Citations can only be issued for misdemeanor crimes. As part of the Lee County School Based Civil Citation Program, the following crimes are eligible: affray, assault, battery, breach of peace, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, disruption of a school function, petit theft and trespassing. As part of the Lee County Patrol Based Civil Citation Program, the only offense eligible for Civil Citation is retail theft. Where do I put the court date on the citation? The Lee County Civil Citation Program is a pre-arrest diversion program, therefore no court date is issued. If the juvenile completes the program there will be no court necessary. Since there is no court date, there is also no need to issue a Notice to Appear. What happens if a juvenile refuses the Civil Citation? In order to receive a Civil Citation, the juvenile must admit to committing the offense and be cooperative. If these conditions are not met, they can expect to be arrested and transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center. What do I do with the juvenile if I can’t contact a parent? As part of the Civil Citation program, you must attempt to contact a parent and make a note of it in the appropriate box on the citation. If you cannot contact a parent, please make an additional note in the narrative of your report. Do I transport the juvenile to the Juvenile Assessment Center? No. Only arrested juveniles are taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center. Do I have to release the juvenile to a parent? No. Issuance of a Civil Citation can be done without a parent present, and the juvenile can be released on their own, similar to issuing a traffic citation. If there is reason to believe that it would be unsafe to release the juvenile without a parent, please contact your supervisor to determine the best course of action. Why should I call DJJ to screen the juvenile if I’m not going to arrest him/her? The Civil Citation Program is only available to juveniles who have not had more than one prior arrest. To verify a juvenile’s arrest history and to make sure that the juvenile qualifies for Civil Citation, call DJJ at 344-5161 or 344-5171. You can also reach Deputy Thompson, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 344-5115. For other questions about the Lee County Civil Citation Program, call (239) 344-5115.

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Frequently Asked Questions By Law Enforcement

What crimes are eligible for issuance of a Civil Citation?
By statute, Civil Citations can only be issued for misdemeanor
crimes. As part of the Lee County School Based Civil Citation
Program, the following crimes are eligible: affray, assault, battery, breach of peace, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, disruption
of a school function, petit theft and trespassing.

As part of the Lee County Patrol Based Civil Citation Program,
the only offense eligible for Civil Citation is retail theft.

Where do I put the court date on the citation?
The Lee County Civil Citation Program is a pre-arrest diversion program, therefore no court date is issued. If the juvenile
completes the program there will be no court necessary. Since
there is no court date, there is also no need to issue a Notice to Appear.

What happens if a juvenile refuses the Civil Citation?
In order to receive a Civil Citation, the juvenile must admit to committing the offense and be cooperative. If these conditions
are not met, they can expect to be arrested and transported to
the Juvenile Assessment Center.

What do I do with the juvenile if I can’t contact a parent?
As part of the Civil Citation program, you must attempt to contact
a parent and make a note of it in the appropriate box on the citation.
If you cannot contact a parent, please make an additional note in
the narrative of your report.

Do I transport the juvenile to the Juvenile Assessment Center?
No. Only arrested juveniles are taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

Do I have to release the juvenile to a parent?
No. Issuance of a Civil Citation can be done without a parent present, and the juvenile can be released on their own, similar to issuing a traffic citation. If there is reason to believe that it would be unsafe to release the juvenile without a parent, please contact your supervisor to determine the best course of action.

Why should I call DJJ to screen the juvenile if I’m not going to arrest him/her?
The Civil Citation Program is only available to juveniles who have not had more than one prior arrest. To verify a juvenile’s arrest history and to make sure that the juvenile qualifies for Civil Citation, call DJJ at 344-5161 or 344-5171. You can also reach Deputy Thompson, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 344-5115.

For other questions about the Lee County Civil Citation Program, call (239) 344-5115.

Community Resources

Juvenile Justice Board & Councils

Lee County Juvenile Justice Council

Data Resources

Juvenile Justice Resources

The Juvenile Assessment Center of Lee County